Rear brakes don’t work

I put new rear brake shoes and drums on the rear of my tacoma and now they don’t seem to be working. Definitely no parking brake. Grinding sound from before persists.

Tips, suggestions?

 

When you installed them you did adjust things after the drums were installed ??

If not they will use the wheel cylinder movement and either not touch the drums or just barely

The first few times adjusting them can be hit or miss to you get the feel for doing it.

 

Yeah you mean the free star wheel/automatic rear brake adjuster? I didn’t leave it fully retracted I adjusted it out a little bit.

I figured the best way to adjust it was by applying the brakes while driving as the drum would be in place and they should slowly take on the correct adjustment but this doesn’t seem to be happening.

Thanks I’ll take a second look at the adjustment.

Any thoughts on the pulsating grinding sound during braking? Had it before and had persisted after changing drums and shoes.

 

The sound might be one of the rotors or drums coming into contact with a slightly bent backing plate or dust shield on the front

 

try rolling back slowly while applying the parking brake

 

Alright cool, I’ve read that the backing plate could be the issue for the noise, it does definitely sound like it’s coming from the rear.

I’ll try rolling back and applying the parking brake, I live on a hill so that should be easy.

I have to ask my neighbor what he did for his Sequoia because he had similar issues.

I’ll report back later this week, thanks.

 

Easiest way to adjust drums is to do it with the drum off. Get it to where the drum will just slide on w/o getting stuck, then loosen it just a smidge. Take note of the adjustment star on the back and practice with the drum off so you can see what you are doing and how it feels. Put the drum back on and adjust accordingly. Shouldn't need more that a few clicks after you get it close. Saves you a lot of blind adjusting.

 

the drums brakes in our Tacoma's do NOT self-adjust by hitting the brakes while in reverse. Rather, they adjust/go where they should be by using the parking brake AT LEAST once/day. But the key is adjusting them first before putting the drum back on, like JJ04TACO mentions above.