Parking brake question - solved, defective parts

This side (left) quit working at some point over the past couple of years. I just redid the bearing because it was leaking. Might have been due to the lack of braking. I don’t know. Anyway, what I noticed on the previous is whilst the bellcrank would move just fine, this part

was not fully advancing the star wheel. I was getting that 1st spring noise, just not the full spring, then click as the wheel advanced. I did just replace this piece as well as the star wheel in hopes that one of those was the issue. I am getting no spring noise at all this time.

I kinda get how the drum brakes work. I am thinking though, & hoping (because I don’t want to have to reassemble, right up there with brake lines ), that it’s simply parking brake ignorance.

Couple of things. I have not bled the brakes yet. Didn’t think this was relevant to the parking brake & the right side is fine. Also, other than centering the shoes best I could, I have not adjusted anything (star wheel is still fully contracted, etc).

plus if anyone can tell me where I put the star adjuster, that would be great!

Return spot only if I don’t force that gold-ish part to the left. So I guess we can just call this where it wants to sit.

This is not being pulled back into place at all. I can’t even force it.


Spring is expanding. I would think it was the spring, however the fact that I can’t push back the above piece (2nd pic) tells me the spring is not the problem, or at least not the main one.

 

There are lots of fiddley bits with Tacoma parking brakes. One thing that is often overlooked is the bellcrank on the rear axle housing. There is a bushing that wears and allows slop in the cables. The rocker mechanisms on the backside of the backing plate need to pivot too.

I would think that the crimp on the cable would be closer the the lever.

 

yes. It’s supposed to be like this

& that overlapping piece is supposed to hug it, like this

 

Oh, & as far as that actuator or whatever it’s called on the axle housing pivots to the left when the parking brake is engaged, I swapped out the bushings & bolt just for fun a couple/few yrs ago.

 

So if I pull the shoe forward a pinch, that gold-ish lever sits back where it’s supposed to. Apparently it’s getting hung up on the shoe. Doesn’t address the other piece. Step in the right direction though.

Brings me to my next question. I’ve been using the #2 spring hold down pins. I questioned that yesterday (the reason is a long story which would be clear as mud once I butchered it). Anyway, upon looking it up, the ‘01’s are supposed to be 50mm long. The 2’s are 50mm from top of head to point. The 8’s are 50mm from bottom of head to point. Just wondering if I’m using the wrong ones. Does anyone know?
The right side is rubbing, just not getting hung up.

 

It's only supposed to advance the star nut if it can. It's how the brakes are adjusted.

 

right. But the fact that when it’s at rest, it’s not seating correctly is what my concern is. I figured out if I pull the left shoe forward a pinch, the far left lever re-seats. That’s why I’m wondering if I’m using the correct length pins.

Pulling the shoe forward however does not seat the star advancing lever. That’s still a mystery.

 

Or maybe that piece on the shoe that those levers hook onto is bent?

 

So, I woke up this morning resigned to the fact that I’d have to dismantle the brakes. I decided beforehand to go back & forth & measure differences, distance between shoes, etc. Then I gave the left side, left shoe a good tug forward & it slightly improved it, although not fully. So, no solid answers.

Dismantled & upon inspection, found that in this case, Toyota is the way to go. Or a very thorough inspection of the aftermarket. Course this means you’d have the Toyota ones on hand to compare (or really know your stuff). Due to my ignorance, the last time (which was also the 1st time) I replaced these, I did not realize this piece & the star wheel could also be reused. Unfortunately, the left one is long gone. The aftermarket on the right side is working.
I am not sure yet that this was the entire issue, however it certainly helps explain why this bracket would not fully seat on the other & it also compressed the other bracket so it was catching on the shoe.

there is a 14 degree dif where the spring hooks in & around a 1.5-1.7mm dif from the small arm to the bracket. This includes where the other bracket would seat.

 

Hopefully I’ve got it figured out. A Kristi “comedy” of bad parts. Just want to post this in case anyone ever runs into the same issues….

I am changing my opinion regarding the previous part, however, the one I was attempting to use had a slight bend in it.

Put it back together with a new one. Nope. Took it apart. Looked at the back of the adjuster plate & saw this

so I inspected the part of the star wheel that sets behind it. Looked ok. Then the shoe & found this

it’s hard to tell, but it’s not flush on the left side where that part of the star wheel sets. Plus there’s the dif in width where that part inserts.

Then there was this


the dif between original, brunch returned Bosch & new duralast
The pin allows more play in the plate that advances the star wheel.

Anyway, the left, problemed side is put together. Drum is installed. Star wheel is advancing…. Fingers crossed….

 

I hope you enjoyed brunch. Was it close to the parts store? Mimosas?

 

Ha-ha! I was like, what is he talking about?!?! Guess I should leave it that way since you commented on it…. Everything in me is saying, edit, edit….

 

great freakin job
And
Documentation for others!

After doing drum brakes on my neighbors Silverado this weekend (wrong pads bought/sourced…..Ugh)

im seriously considering changing my worst wrenching task……from electrical to drum brakes

 

Thank you!

& I’m going to throw brake lines in there. When I removed the lpsv, I decided to do all the lines (other than the ones I had already done for the tundra brake swap). What a nightmare! I thought removing the originals was going to be the worst part. Nope. The garage floor was covered with brake fluid & my hands were puckered (weird word) for days after I finally finished. & many unladylike words were uttered….

 

3rd worst on my list……bleeding brakes!
Ugh

well I know u know your shit from previous threads

In my LSVP delete thread…. Some seasoned members posted WAY easier process to follow. (I Had already bought manual PV and fittings….ugh)
Think LanceRN and Bivouac
Cheers