Emergency brake question

[WarDamnEagle]

OK so this might qualify for the dumbest question I've ever asked in this forum but the FSM is no help at all and I know little to nothing about drum brakes.

I installed a new front emergency brake cable on the 85 4Runner. In order to get the emergency brake to hold I had to take up almost all the slack in the adjustment where the front cable connects to the rear cable assembly (passenger side, midway back). Now the brake wasn't holding hardly at all before the cable broke so I don't think the adjustment was necessary due to me changing the cable.

The question is, would having to take up almost all of this slack in the adjustment be an indication that the rear brake shoes were almost gone?

Brakes seem to work fine but I suppose most of the work is done with the front brakes anyway. I rebuilt front and rear axles about 3 years (and less than 5000 miles ago) but I cannot remember if we changed the rear brake pads. The work was done with my help at a friend's shop but he did some of the work when I was not there, thus my fuzzy memory. I know we did the front ones because we changed the rotors as well.

 

[Combat Chuck]

Too much slack to me indicates tired shoes in back, or the wrong length cable.

 

[KLF]

Where did you get the cable? I know there are about 3.27x10^4 different cable combinations on these trucks, unless you take your VIN to a dealer it might not be the exact fit.

But I would also pop a rear wheel off and see what's up. I suppose the rear cable could be stretched and tired as well.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Where did you get the cable? I know there are about 3.27x10^4 different cable combinations on these trucks, unless you take your VIN to a dealer it might not be the exact fit.

But I would also pop a rear wheel off and see what's up. I suppose the rear cable could be stretched and tired as well.

I used my VIN and pulled the cable number off the Toyota DYI website. I then had the dealer verify everything after I gave him the part number. The cable fit perfectly and appeared to be an exact match to the one that was removed. Also, now that I've adjusted the linkage, the emergency brake works fine also. I just got concerned about the rear brake shoes but haven't had the time to take the drum off to look.

I guess my question should have been more generic:

Do you typically or sometimes have to adjust the cable linkage under the truck for your emergency brake as the brake shoes wear or does wear on the brake shoes have no effect whatsoever on the emergency brake?

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Check the shoes, if they are fine, look over the cable at the rear axle, they have a tendency to break, so it could be stretching right now...

 

[dubsb]

I have a different application with the same problem, when i switched to duals and a xfer case ebrake my cable was too long, i just tied a knot in it i know i could have searched for a shorter cable, and the knot may weaken the cable but its been there for a year or so and no issues or freying. So if the pads are good it might be a cheap easy fix for you.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Everything is working fine. I just wasn't sure if having to take up some slack with the cable adjustment was a sign of rear brake wear. I guess I'll have to get off my duff and take a peek.

Just FYI, the front cable isn't too expensive ($60+) but I think you can add another $100 to that for the rear one so hopefully that one will last another 25 years.

 

[dubsb]

I do have all the rear cables in my basement if you are interested