Drum Brake failure

Hey guys,

Searched to see if someone had similar problems, but I have 5100 miles on my OR and am about to get the third set of drums. The first set was within 2k miles. This second set now at 5100 miles. I've contacted Toyota, but want to see if anyone has a similar problem. I have ruled out my driving as non of my previous cars or trucks had this problem and I tend to be fairly fuel conscious so drive with a light foot. I have a feeling it is related to the crawl control, I wasn't using it the first time I had them replaced, but this past snow I used it to get out of my driveway and now a day later they need replacement. Hoping to find fellow owners with the same problem.

 

Hmm, sounds like this may be more for the TRDOR guys but I haven't seen any complaints about the drums (other than it has them) on here.

I've got 5,600 on my Sport and no issues that I know of. But I don't have crawl control. Seems plausible that something may be getting stuck on. My last truck went just short of 90,000 on the stock brakes (no drums though). Something is definitely off.

 

You need to be specific. "Drum brake failure" is pretty vague.

 

How are they failing? Are the pads wearing out? My first guess if it is the pads would be a stuck parking brake or something like that.

 

Sorry it's vague, they are warped. I just talked to toyota customer care, they said could normal, car is too new to determine.

 

drums are warping ?

post pics of the warped drum and also both brake shoes when this next occurs


nothing is normal about drums warping....they should just wear out over time

something is not adding up

specifically...How much torque is being applied to each lug nut when wheel is attached ???


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crawl control, how often do you drive in circumstances where crawl control is engaged and doing it's brake controller dance ?

 

Ive only used crawl control once and it was this past weekend to get out of the snow. This use was probably about 5 mins off and on. For no more than 15 seconds a turn. So attempt, dig out some more, crawl control, repeat.

I have had it on once or twice before had to see what it does, but not in actual circumstances where it would be necessary, for example my gravel driveway I turned it on to see then turned it off.

I want to think its something I'm doing, but I can't think of anything that would do it, I put the parking brake on everytime I park, maybe that does something?

 

How cold has it been and how much snow has been around when you are parking. It could be the parking brake linkage is freezing up and not releasing when you release the brake handle.

 

This seems like a valid explanation. That or the linkage is bound up and is in a constant state of being minimally engaged.

 

Its been above 37F the past few days when I've driven it. This morning I removed the parking brake, blocked the front wheels, put in neutral, and jacked the rear up and the tires spun freely.

 

I use parking brake every time I park also...I have no issues (2013)

odd

 

How do you know they've been failing?
There is nothing "normal" that would cause a drum brake to warp in only a couple thousand miles. They should last 50k+.
I would second the thought that the wheels are being carelessly tightened. Someone with an impact gun is shooting the lug nuts on and warping the drum.

 

when you say fail, what do you mean by fail? Do they not engage at all?
When they were replaced by the dealer , what did they write up & what did they say failed exactly??
Why would crawl mode have any effect on the drums once you disengage it?
To have them replaced three times means maybe a system failure or component failure... can you elaborate?

 

Not enough info OP

 

The first time they wrote up as defective drums, said it was a defective part
I dunno why crawl control would, but I figure that could have had some affect as it actuates the brakes to crawl.
This 3rd set I am getting new drums and shoes. The Tech told me it looked like I left the parking brake on for a long time. Then proceeded to tell me to not drive with it on...which I don't, and the car makes it obvious if you do if I ever did leave it on.

 

Sorry, added some more in the above post.

 

^

 

Maybe fail is not the best word, but they get warped, and apparently the shoes are not showing signs of high prolonged heat.

 

I've used crawl control on my '16 TRDOR a few times and haven't noticed any problems with the drums. How have you identified the warp? I'm guessing that you're getting a shimmy or something when you're braking, but that's just an assumption. If you'll let me know how you identified the problem, I'm happy to let you know if mine have something similar.

8400+ miles on mine.

 

if they are saying it looks like the parking brake was left on for a long time
that means the drum will be scored and you can feel a ridge with fingers

I am calling baloney unless the computer IS engaging the shoes on you

a good test would be

long drive on highway, 5 miles so everything brake-wise in rear cools down

find an exit or offramp or pull-off lane that you can just coast down to a stop using transmission, do not use brakes at all. then of course
use brakes to stop vehicle the last two feet. seriously though you want to NOT use the brakes so logic dictates
there has been ZERO brake shoe applied to rear brake drums and those drums should be cold.

hop out, feel the rear drums, are they hot or warm in any way ? if they are, then there is a braking
problem and something is making the shoes stay engaged