Or afraid to admit it

I had my a$$ kicked by my drum brakes today.

Mistake #1, using an after market hardware kit. (Thanks a lot PowerStop)
The upper shoe spring isn’t bent correctly and is “short” before the adjusting star wheel.
This pushes the spring right up against the star wheel locking lever. And makes the lever not want to catch the notches on the star by much at all.


And for the life of me, I can’t get the parking brake to hold tight.
Brakes stop pretty good. Parking brake is “no good”
I can’t get it to hold itself in gear. If I adjust the shoes out any farther, the drum won’t spin. Period.

WTF……I never had this issue before.
And I had the shoes off when doing axle seal. All went back together fine.
But….that was 100K miles ago too?

Honestly, I can say I ever “checked” the parking brake.
So who know, maybe it was weak before I started?

I don’t really want to pull the center console and take up the adjustment there. But maybe I will have too?

 

Happy Friday....

 

On mine I can just pull the cupholder out and see the cables but I'm not sure if automatics are like that or not.

 

That tab goes under the yellow spring and holds the star gear in place.

You typically don't need to adjust the parking cables.

The star gear should ratchet.

 

But what kind of oil do you use?

It’s getting late. Get a good nights rest and look at it with fresh eyes in the morning.

 

My cup holder is part of the shift console. I “think” the upper section might pop off.
I’m going to adjust the brakes once more “tighter”. Then move to the inside.

 

I knew I should have taken more pictures.
I’m not sure what tab you are talking about. I’ll have to look up some pictures.

 

That's why I always do 1 side at a time when doing drum brakes.

 

I just did parking cables on a tacoma today, if I have one apart tomorrow I'll share any odd angles if needed.

 

I had a helper…….

 

That kind of "help" is often more trouble than it's worth, had that problem today on a Honda center console that the new guy took apart. He had much more stuff taken apart than he needed to and he was off today.

 

My dad knew what he was doing.
Either he didn’t know, or that spring is “not right”.

I got to take just a very few picture before he tore them apart.
I’m going to take them back apart and use the OEM springs.
Compare this picture to the one above.

 

For future reference should anyone else manage to do something stupid like I have.

 

When dad can't figure it out, it's definitely the truck's fault. Just go with it lol.

 

Yeah. He says “it’s fine”.
Just adjust them tighter.
WTF, you can’t go any tighter.

It went kind of like this.
I helped him fix my grandparents water. (Pipe leak)
And he said, “since I’m here, let me help you with your brakes”. (I’ve had them for over 6 months now)
It was a solid plan, until he tore them apart. Threw them back together, and went home.
I started take pictures when he went on about, “you don’t need pictures, this is easy”.

Well………evidently it’s not.
I guess this will be another “learn the hard way” thing.
But seriously, I had the drives side off about 7 years ago when doing an axle seal.
I have no idea what went wrong this time?
I’m going throw the old springs back on the adjuster and “see what happens”.

 

Haha yup. The old guys at work make fun of me for taking pictures or using a torque wrench. The job might take me longer, but I get shit done the first time lol.

You will get it figured out sooner than later. Lucky for us, we have the internet to reference.

 

If the shoes are properly adjusted and the Parking brake is still soft you have to get at the adjustment under the console. On my auto I just take the shift knob off and pull up on the whole thing. Honestly even taking the whole arm rest and compartment off isn't that hard, it's just a few screws. That will give you even more room

 

I’ll dig into it later this week.
I’m beat. I’m not worried about the parking brake right now.
I’m going to throw the OE springs back on the adjusters.
I don’t like the way the aftermarket fit.

 

Did you get to the cause yet?