New rear brake drums smoking/pulsing

Howdy. I have an 02 Tacoma that I recently bought and did some repairs on. Had my mechanic replace both rear brake drums and brake shoes on back left. After a few miles my back left wheel was smoking bad so I brought it back and he backed out the brake adjustment. Then after an hour or so of driving I got some smoking from the back right wheel (much less significant but still concerning) I then brought it back to him and he backed out the brake adjustment there too. So I’m no longer getting smoking but I am getting some pulsating in my brake pedal especially when good force is applied. The rear hub areas were pretty rusty (why I replaced the drums) could that have something to do with it being unpredictable? Is this completely the fault of my mechanic and should I reach out again? Has anyone had experience around this?

a separate issue is the high idle of 18000. The ac wasn’t working when I bought the truck because the ac compressor belt was missing. It must have been removed because the compressor was mucked up a bit. The ac compressor seems to make some noise but works (about half the time). Would this affect the idle? Would it affect it that significantly? Or is it more likely an issue with a dirty IACV?

cheers

 

The brakes smoking was definitely the shoes being out of adjustment. The pulsating pedal is most likely because the rear drums are warped from being over-adjusted. Most likely you now need new shoes and drums again. I would start with cleaning your IACV.

 

About your pulsating brakes - if the drums were smoking then they were most likely (severly) overheated and are now warped.

I would see if I couldn't work something out with the mechanic who replaced them. The drums should be under some kind of warranty. Let him do the exchange and the replacement. If you get no satisfaction from the mechanic, well, then it's time to get another one.

And hope for the best.

 

What a mess is there brake hardware missing that allowed the drums to over tighten.

I would hope that is the case rather then a mechanic clueless on Toyota Rear brakes..

Had your parking brake worked correct before replacing parts?

I hope you mean 1,800 not 18,000 rpm.

A cold start of 1,800 can be normal on a cold engine. Mine are in that area .

Does the RPM come down as the engine warms to operating temperature??

 

I was not having issues with the brakes but they were pretty rusty back there. Ya it makes me worry about my mechanics ability. I should probably talk to him about the pulsing.

haha yes, 1,800 rpm. It actually seems to cold start consistently to 1500 then rise to 1800 when the ac compressor starts goin, but always after driving for a bit. The idle has been staying at 18 even after long drives

 

I don’t know, I hate to think your mechanic adjusted them that tight. The wheel would have been nearly locked tight for “smoke” to occur.

I adjust them until they just start grabbing the drum. You can hear them “just barely” dragging.
I’ve never had my drums “smoke”.

Did you (your mechanic) clean and lube the backing plate and use new hardware?
It doesn’t make since that they would be that tight. And I don’t know anyone that would adjust them that tight.