How Did I Manage This? (Rear Brakes)

Continuing my Taco calamities, I recently got this friendly message while I was out:



Fortunately I was close to home because the brake pedal just sunk to the floor. I also found this when I got back:



As you may have guessed, I lost the brake cylinder on that wheel. Due to the usual reason: worn shoes.


Really worn shoes:


For background, the truck has 51K miles on it and I've had it from 18K - that was four years ago. I've never serviced the rear brakes. From what I'm reading, the life on those shoes should be longer. I brake pretty gently in all but emergency stops and actually try to minimize brake use by downshifting.

I went ahead and replaced all of the brake hardware on both sides. What I'm trying to figure out is how I wore the shoes down to bare metal. Ideas?

 

The wear seems to be more on the bottom of the shoes where the E-brake is. Maybe someone drove it for many miles with the E-brake on and then sold it?

 

First Owner: "What's that beeping?"

 

At least it's not the timing cover issue - ( knock wood ).

Not knocking your buying decision, but this is why I always buy new. I pay more up front but I keep the things for 10-12 years and
know exactly how it is driven and maintained. There is no telling how the previous owner treated it - could have drove it like he stole it.

Airforce has a theory that could account for driving w/ the EBrake engaged.

 

That is a lot of wear for only 51k miles. Shoes generally last a long time, far longer than that. Had a Saturn once that didn't need rear shoes until over 190k.

 

The shoes should not just come out of the wheel cylinder like that.
There are groves in the cylinder the shoes ride in. Something was stuck, and had been stuck for a while.

I'd be checking the E-brake cables, the pivot hardware, and and the pivot pins for binding.

 

At this point, nothing back there should bind. If I didn't replace it outright, I cleaned and lubed the heck out of it.

 

I agree. After seeing the Billy-Bob mods that get done in the driveways by many people or the lack of basic services, a used Tacoma is my last choice.

 

The cables can bind though. Dirt and grit can get inside the sleeve and the cable won't fully release

 

So is that serviceable or a full on replacement?

 

Replacement. But check them first before throwing parts at it

 

Although I bought used at 50k and my tacoma
has been great I do wish I could afford
to buy brand new.

 

Wait, wait... You're saying I should test before throwing money at it? Madness.

 

If you don't exercise the e-brake it can cease up the fist time you use it. Had it happen on a car I had before the Tacoma.