Parking brake adjustment
- Thread starter CSteppe82
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
you could try adjusting at the lever first but if they had to loosen the star behind the rotor to get the old rotor off the hub, you may need to do more adjustment there.
Do you have the cup holder removal instructions?
- Thread starter
- #7
Yes
Why would you try to adjust up front when the problem occurred right after a brake job? That is fixing the symptom, not the problem.
Toyota parking brakes are NOT self adjusting, they use a seperate drum and shoe system, and you must turn the star wheels until the linings drag heavily, then back off about 8 clicks.
You can do this yourself, but I would make the shop that did the brakes fix it, since it is their fault!
BTW, if the parking brake linings are worn much, they will NEVER EVER work correctly with new rotors since the drum and lining curvature will no long match. The old linings must be either ground to fit the new diameter (a truly time consuming and big PITA to do correctly), or replaced with brand new shoes. How many miles on your truck, and are you in the habit of abusing the parking brake, as in doing handbrake turns in the snow?
Also, what shop did the work? If it was a Toyota dealer or Toyota specialist, shame on them. If you took it to a non Toyota shop, well, this is the kind of crap that happens with a poorly trained tech.... and you should not keep going there.
This video is an 70/ 80 Series but the 200 is very similar. They show how to adjust the star wheels. The tech uses the front access hole, but you can use the rear slotted one in the dust shield, without having to remove a wheel. If they won’t move, they are rusted and must be repaired and the threads lubricated with antiseize compound or high temp grease.
I will never replace rear rotors without also rebuilding the parking brake and replacing the shoes. It’s the only way to 100 % guarantee that all the parts work correctly, and you really don’t want to have to do it twice....
John Davies
Spokane WA
Toyota parking brakes are NOT self adjusting, they use a seperate drum and shoe system, and you must turn the star wheels until the linings drag heavily, then back off about 8 clicks.
You can do this yourself, but I would make the shop that did the brakes fix it, since it is their fault!
BTW, if the parking brake linings are worn much, they will NEVER EVER work correctly with new rotors since the drum and lining curvature will no long match. The old linings must be either ground to fit the new diameter (a truly time consuming and big PITA to do correctly), or replaced with brand new shoes. How many miles on your truck, and are you in the habit of abusing the parking brake, as in doing handbrake turns in the snow?
Also, what shop did the work? If it was a Toyota dealer or Toyota specialist, shame on them. If you took it to a non Toyota shop, well, this is the kind of crap that happens with a poorly trained tech.... and you should not keep going there.
This video is an 70/ 80 Series but the 200 is very similar. They show how to adjust the star wheels. The tech uses the front access hole, but you can use the rear slotted one in the dust shield, without having to remove a wheel. If they won’t move, they are rusted and must be repaired and the threads lubricated with antiseize compound or high temp grease.
I will never replace rear rotors without also rebuilding the parking brake and replacing the shoes. It’s the only way to 100 % guarantee that all the parts work correctly, and you really don’t want to have to do it twice....
John Davies
Spokane WA
Last edited:
So on a side note, how can I adjust mine??? Mine will click all the way to the top...
I would prefer the cup holder method...
I would prefer the cup holder method...
The cup holder method is wrong, adjust the star wheels!
The only reason for the cable adjustment is to get the required travel at the lever AFTER adjusting the brake shoes correctly, as per the maintenance manual! If you tighten up the star wheels it will reduce the travel at the lever.
This is not difficult to understand, maybe it is just hard to accept. Why, I have no clue....
John Davies
Spokane WA
Hi, I've installed new brake shoes today. Adjusted them using the star wheels and greased the cable. The wheels now locks at the same time on both wheels, but I would like the handbrake lever to engage the parking brakes a tad earlier. I guess I have to adjust the slack up front where the park brake lever is. Anyone knows if I have to dismantle the whole center console, or is it enough to remove the front cup holder? (LC 100)
Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
Only need to to pull the cup holder up, and out. No screws, just friction clips. Give it a tug and you’re done.
Have a shop vac, wet towel and a piggy bank close by when you remove cup holder.
Another ck while you are in there is that left and right cables are being pulled evenly. Look below the adjusting nut assembly and you will see a yoke that attaches to each L & R cable. If one side is not adjusted the same or close as the other at the wheel, you will see it there. If its way off, go back and readjust at the wheel. When we need to use the parking brake it should be as close to 100% L and R side.
Another ck while you are in there is that left and right cables are being pulled evenly. Look below the adjusting nut assembly and you will see a yoke that attaches to each L & R cable. If one side is not adjusted the same or close as the other at the wheel, you will see it there. If its way off, go back and readjust at the wheel. When we need to use the parking brake it should be as close to 100% L and R side.
