1st Gen 4Runner Rear Brake Job

[GeoRoss]

I haven't touched drum brakes in 1000 years. I'm looking for some pointers. How much should I replace? I can't even recall what all comes with the shoes. I was looking up OEM part numbers and found that early 86 4runners have a different part number for the rear shoes. This part is discontinued. My local dealership has not been helpful.

Is there a difference back there or is it just a formulation thing? I'm guessing there won't be a problem. I'll may go aftermarket as $100 seems pretty high for just shoes.

Thanks,

 

[pappy]

I would (do) go aftermarket for rear shoes. I would not skimp, but even the good stuff from NAPA is going to be in the $40 range.

 

[msahr]

Soon it gets up there close to the rear disk brake conversion price... I did mine a while ago too and I don't remember anything particularly different.

 

[GeoRoss]

Napa brake shoes and hardware kit ordered. I was hoping to do this over the holiday, but parts won't get here till Monday.

I hear you on the disc conversion. When I was searching I found a post where someone used Mustang (IIRC) calipers and some sort of Mitsubishi rotors. The cool think is they retained parking brake function. Maybe something for the future.

 

[msahr]

Yeah there's a conversion kit too I don't remember the company but they're in the back of all the magazines. Keeping the parking brake would be absolutely essential for me, too.

 

[ntsqd]

Shoe difference is likely the change from LA to IFS as the rear brakes got bigger in the transition.

FWIW I think the first step in building the brake system is to clone the late first gen (& maybe later) V6 4rnnr system. Buy that master, calipers, brake booster, and rear drum assemblies. My '84 Xcab had brakes (vented rotor upgrade) that worked extremely well when you really needed them to, but weren't very inspiring feeling. This V6 4rnnr's brakes are a significantly better system. I would NOT fudge with the formula, buy all of the parts for the same application. I suspect that the tuning done by Mr. T on the booster is particularly important to how well this system works and feels.

Front Range Off-Road has a couple of RDB options. Some include a p-brake option.

 

[GeoRoss]

Well, the hardware kit from Napa didn't have a new fulcrum stud for the adjuster. Can you reuse the old one? I' calling around for new.

 

[GeoRoss]

I am not having fun adjusting the brakes. I've cycled the parking brake a few dozen times. I got to the point I couldn't turn the drum, yeah all done. I put the tires back on and find it doesn't hold on an incline. I hope I'm close, I ran out of daylight and will hopefully finish tomorrow.

 

[KLF]

Drum brakes suck.

This is how I fixed my rear drums problem:

 

[ntsqd]

Brakes only slow you down, but some less so than others.

Adjust them at the drum to just barely not drag, and then adjust the p-brake cable to be within the 9-17 clicks spec?

 

[GeoRoss]

Thanks for the suggestions. We've got brakes! Everything is in specks far as I can tell. I need to bleed the brakes as they are a bit soft. I wish I'd have either rebuilt the wheel cylinders or bought new ones. The current ones didn't show signs of leaking so there is that.

Now to chase down leaks. I'm hoping tightening one of the PS hoses solves that one. The oil leak is more of a problem. I think it may be the oil pan.