Keep messing up my rear drums, please give me some advice.

I love this truck, but it has so many little quirks and hiccups (not that it's a bad thing). I have only 17k miles on my 2021 Tacoma TRD Sport and I have had the rear drums warp, be inspected, get resurfaced/replaced, and then warp again 3 times now. I took it to the dealership for one, a highly reviewed brake shop the second time, and did it myself the 3rd time. I'm tired of spending $500+ every year on brake maintenance and am legitimately considering trading the truck in because of this one issue. I am super easy on the brakes, break them in, and avoid coming to complete stops while they are hot. I've tried everything, including having the dealership replacing the axle as when it bends it can warp your rotors. I am out of time, ideas, and patience. Please help. I could get if it happened once, but average time between needing brake components is 5k miles. I really hope that my case is a fluke and none of y'all are experiencing the same pain.

 

do you get them wet when hot?. If you are using them and them get lots of water on/in them they can warp.
Has happened to me once. At least that is what is sounds like to me.

 

Are they dragging? Maybe the shoes are adjusted too tight

 

I haven't had to replace any brake component yet, aside from two preemptive fluid changes.

 

First time, I did get them wet but it was about 2 weeks before the first warping (technically not true, someone else said pad deposits). Haven't been off road since. I have an appointment with the dealership Friday, I'm just going to push to have every component replaced. My warranty ends tomorrow but two weekends ago I let the tech drive it and make a note so I'm not SOL. I would assume they're not dragging as I've put it up on jacks to test for it, but then again I am not knowledgable when it comes to brakes. If it was dragging I'd hope one of the two other places would have noticed.

 

Lucky duck

 

It may be helpful if I add that I feel the vibration throughout the truck but not the steering wheel. It's bad enough that I feel like I'm running over a rumble strip and I can't have passengers anymore because it makes them carsick. Slightly embarrassing

 

I hope it gets figured out soon. I have no idea why it would be that persistent.

 

I appreciate it. My vacuum pump knocks pretty bad (have to get that replaced too) but I doubt that could be causing it.

 

Are the lug nuts too tight?

 

I torqued them to spec during my last tire rotation, so unfortunately no. Can’t figure it out for the life of me. Thank you for the help

 

Check out this video from the Maintenance Map and make you are not missing something.

https://youtu.be/-dmUF5hbQEQ?si=M0VfoV5BW73Nk-Q7

 

Just watched, I did everything except the anti-seize. Is that required? I did it via a different write up and they never mentioned it.

 

All the linkages and adjusters are dry? Any metal-on-metal interface need grease or anti-seize.

 

The elephant in the room here is the constant severe vibration. That ain't normal. I've had 3 Tacomas and never had to mess with the rear brakes until well over 100K miles, and Mine are work trucks & don't get babied. None have ever vibrated either. Figure that vibration out & I'll wager the other problems are related. Possible suggestions: bent or badly out of balance driveshaft, bad rear axle bearings, bent or badly out of balance rims/tires....

 

Sometimes the main cause is elsewhere but the act of messing with a related system gives a temporary resolution. Drum brakes are darn robust and shouldn't need repair every 5000 miles unless something else is affecting them negatively. My suspicion is that the replacement axle may not have met specs either.

https://www.torquenews.com/1083/pro...ta-tacoma-brake-drums-read-about-axle-problem

 

Yes, exactly what I was thinking as I read through.

Most of the time Tacoma drum brakes are under adjusted and dont do a whole lot. I highly doubt drums are the source of your issue. Also, if they were getting that crazy hot you would smell them

Carrier bearing? Bad tire balance? Bad tire (not round)? Unbalanced driveshaft (maybe lost a weight)? Many sources of vibrations, but I kinda doubt its the drums

 

@Pwakchop what if any mods have you done to the truck?