13 with a sticking parking brake

13 manual with 75k. Never has had the drums off. As of late, the parking brake seems to stick on even after release. The issue seems to be at the drum as the handle release no problem back into the dash. It breaks free every time but seems to take more effort (ie throttle/clutch) in 1st than in reverse. I’ve been setting the brake with fewer clicks lately, which helps, but problem persists. Previously (and for the last 10ish years!) I’ve been pulling that handle till the clicks stop. I do use the parking brake every single time. I’ll admit I haven’t pulled the drums and might find an obvious culprit, but is there any common thing to check? Anything before the drum that I should be looking at?

 

At the very least pull the drums, clean everything, inspect the shoes for wear/thickness, inspect the cylinders for leaks, lube the appropriate lube points, reassemble and properly adjust the brake.

That should be a biannual project if you live in salt land or do a lot of mud/water offloading. Annual in other areas. Maybe every couple of years if you're low mileage driver in non salt country

 

Thanks - anticipated this would be the recommended action. I have some time at around Thanksgiving that I’ll be able to do this. Not looking forward to breaking free those drums that have never been off. It’s been ages since I’ve worked on drum brakes, presume there is a plug on the back that will let me get to the adjuster.

 

I’m going to guess the rr parking brake cable is broken. Go oe, only.

 

Yes small plug the size of a vitamin pill. Have a good headlamp and two flat screwdrivers - one to push away the no-back spring and one to flip the adjuster.

Buy a new drum brake hardware kit before you start, as there's a good chance of mangling the little springs on removal.

 

Have that part number by chance? Or maybe @TnShooter ?

 

Pretty sure it is # 04942-04010

 

Thank you sir!

https://parts.ourismantoyotaofrichmond.com/oem-parts/toyota-drum-brake-shoe-spring-kit-494204010

 

Planning on this work early next week. When I flushed the brake fluid last the bleeders were starting to get a bit mangled, they need replacing. I’ve googled and searched part sites and I don’t find consistent answers on the size. Figured asking here was a safer bet, I think they are M10x1x35 for the wheel cylinders (correct me if I’m wrong) and not sure if the front calipers same or not. Anyone know?

 

Think I rooted out the issue - age, dried/absent grease, and crusty contact points on the backing plate. Parking brake cables seem just fine.

Both drums were rust “welded” to the hubs. Heat from two MAPP torches, a lot of PBlaster, and many thwacks with a deadblow hammer later … I gave up and resorted to cutting the drums. Enough so that I could tap a chisel and expand them off the concentric ring on the hub. Then they popped right off. Too bad because it was surprisingly clean inside, the shoes I would estimate at 50% or more life left (75k mi). I really think a clean of the backing plate to remove the crustyness and some lubrication is all it would have needed. I think things were just getting hung up from too much friction, and also why they would suddenly break free when I tried to drive. With the drums cut I was all in for new everything.

I got a complete kit from Powerstop and that all went together without an issue. Haven’t driven it just yet as I nicked 2 lug studs with the cutoff wheel and wanted to replace them, they arrived just this evening.

The drums have never been off, the factory paper gasket was still there (it obviously didn’t do much). I’ll be painting the hub flange with antisieze. Lesson here, take those drums off regularly. I’m going to make this part of my annual Fluid Film process so I can check, adjust, regrease, and apply fresh antisieze on the hub. It sucked to destroy the drums to remove them, I spent hours trying to save them but to no avail.

Crusty backing plate contacts


Old


new


I’m no novice, but I’ve only done a handful of drum brakes. I found the YouTube video on Tacoma drums by Faye Hadley to be a very excellent visual aid and guide on what sequence makes things easiest. I’d recommend it to anyone tackling this job.
https://youtu.be/O-yN4LFlC6g?si=72GWg9ftpgF5vUe5