What is the correct way to adjust rear brake shoes?

[NocalFJ60]

The directions that come with the Toyota brake shoes say to tighten up the star adjuster until the drum locks and then back off 8 turns. What does the factory manual say? I don't have the body manual yet.

This what everyone one else does? Does the parking brake adjust them properly?

After changing some shoes the other night the ebrake does not stop the truck like it should. I was going to tighten up the cable.

What tricks have you learn to set them? I can getting the hang of adjusting the star finally.

Thanks.

 

[hobiesbestfriend]

Not much info from me, I always assumed they were self adjusting.
interested in finding out more

 

[agent orange]

The parking brake keeps them close once they are set, but to get mine right i have to manually adjust.

I turn the star wheel until the wheel locks, then turn it the other way until the wheel just barely drags. I run them as tight as i can get without heating the drums. I like to tighten, go for a 5-10 minute drive, and feel if one side or the other has built a lot of heat. If not, theyre good to go.

-Matt

 

[Cruzerman]

I just did my rear brakes about a month ago, and this is how I think they "should" work, and mine do work this way (at least now they do).

You should not have to adjust the star wheel at all. They are self adjusting by way of the e-brake. I cleaned everything really well, put grease where it should be, and everything works just like it should. My brakes are good and tight and my e-brake handle has the correct amount of travel (and works awesome). Never had to manually adjust the star wheel, even after putting on the new parts. That's a good thing because while tightening it is easy, loosening it seems like a pain in the rear.

 

[agent orange]

loosening it seems like a pain in the rear.

You just gotta find where to stick the scredriver and then it a peice of cake. Try it with the drums off to find the sweet spot.

My drums never act right when i dont manually adjust them.

-Matt

 

[HighPlainsDrifter]

When I did my brakes last I adjusted them till they were barely dragging.They work fine.Untill I did that the e-brake did not work and the front would lock and the back would hardley catch.I agree with Cruzerman though that they should self adjust.I may have to take them apart again and play Sherlock Holmes.Adjust them manually till they just start to drag.When you get the time to break into them grease everything up and make sure nothing broke or rusted.THe manaull way only takes about an half an hour start to finish dragging tools out and them putting everything away.Easy.
Good Luck
-Rob

""EDIT"" Put the truck on jacks to do it that way so you can feel when they are adjusted properly.

 

[baldredhead]

I just did my rear brakes about a month ago, and this is how I think they "should" work, and mine do work this way (at least now they do).

You should not have to adjust the star wheel at all. They are self adjusting by way of the e-brake. I cleaned everything really well, put grease where it should be, and everything works just like it should. My brakes are good and tight and my e-brake handle has the correct amount of travel (and works awesome). Never had to manually adjust the star wheel, even after putting on the new parts. That's a good thing because while tightening it is easy, loosening it seems like a pain in the rear.

pretty much the same here. i verified everything was worikng and just jerked the handle repeatedly untill it tightened up

 

[toyman317]

I just watched a Toyota mech (my brother) do this tonight on mine. My ebrake cable doesn't work too good so they needed done manually. On the plate at the top is a dust plug that you take out. Use a wide screwdriver or preferrably a tool specifically for this. Stick it in the slot angled down to catch the star and then push it up to tighten the brakes. He did this until the shoe just started to rub the drum. Made a huge difference in my brakes.

 

[UpsideDown]

If you're installing new shoes, or adjusting for old ones - make sure you slacken the hand brake cable first (inside the vehicle - the plastic knob and 10mm nut on top of the handle) and THEN set the brake shoes up properly.

If the hand brake cable is setting the shoe to drum clearance by being set too tightly, you will not be adjusting the shoes properly when you do it at the drums via the star adjuster. The net effect of this is that you will have a mushy brake pedal and bleeding or adjusting at the drums won't help - until the cable is done properly (and then you have to go back to the drums again...).

You hand brake should be set so that at about 6 clicks up, the car will not roll on a hill.

hth.

~John

 

[2mbb]

Here's the procedure from the FSM.

 

[S&S1stCruzer]

I just did my rear brakes about a month ago, and this is how I think they "should" work, and mine do work this way (at least now they do).

You should not have to adjust the star wheel at all. They are self adjusting by way of the e-brake. I cleaned everything really well, put grease where it should be, and everything works just like it should. My brakes are good and tight and my e-brake handle has the correct amount of travel (and works awesome). Never had to manually adjust the star wheel, even after putting on the new parts. That's a good thing because while tightening it is easy, loosening it seems like a pain in the rear.

Ditto - make sure all the parts in the drum are in working order and you pull and release on the e-brake until you stop hearing the star wheel turning with each crank pull.