82 FJ60 adjustable drum brakes

[CMD82]

Hey guys, I was reading the article on the tech section that is on adjusting LC drum brakes. I seem to be experiencing the same problem that everyone else had about LC brakes at some point or another. My brakes work ok, but there is a lot of pedal travel. If I pump them they seem to work a little bit better. This past weekend I tried to adjust them using a combination of the tech article and the Chiltons manual. The chiltons was saying that all toyota drum brakes are not adjustable???? So anyways I proceeded to follow the tech article on this site. However my hubs did not not have 2 slots on each side. It only had one rectangular slot on the top that was extremely difficult to reach, much less turn the keys inside. That slot was the only one that had a removable rubber plug. This is different that what was explained in the tech article.
Can anyone shed some light on this for me?
Thanks,
Chris

 

[Landpimp]

one slot is correct for a late 40 or any 60, these use only one brake cylinder, where the older stuff used 2.....so 2 slots.

 

[swank60]

That's the slot, and there is only the one, but the easiest way to tighten up the brakes manually (finding that star wheel and the damn release is a bear even if you have the wheel off...) is to climb up under it and grab the cable for the emergency brake - you have to do one at a time, but as you pull it, you'll hear that star wheel click - you just keep giving it a few tugs - and do an equal amount on the other side - and then check your pedal play.

Theoretically you can keep tugging the cable until it stops clicking, but in my experience, that just leads to more adjustments (backing it off) a few weeks later, mine tends to overtighten it's self.

Oh, and throw away the Chilton's manual. That'll help out a lot.

 

[CMD82]

Pimp and Swank,

Thanks for the reply's. I'll try that stuff you recommended. I appreciate the help. Although my emergency brake does not work. I think that the springs on the outside of the hub are too rusted to move. I shot them with some PB Blaster the other day, I will go hammer on them again.
I'll let you guys know how I made out.
Thanks,
Chris

 

[dd113]

The pulling on the cable will work, eventually. You just need a small screwdriver with a wide head. Remove the tire, remove the plug, duck down and feel for the star. You rotate it up. Rotate until you get a firm resistance on the drum when turning it by hand. Fix your e brake or you will do this all the time. The e brake adjusts the RR drums.