Squishy Brake Pedal - Fixed!!

To me this seems like the brake lines might not have been properly bled before. And after installing the new lines they where bled again properly. Not saying new lines didn't help but it seems weird it would make such a difference if there wasn't air in there to begin with. Unless the oem lines where starting to bloat...

 

Mine only has one oval plug and that being on the upper part of the backing place right dead center rather than being off to the side a bit so I still cant see the star adjuster.

 

The star adjuster is there. I just did this 3 minutes ago cause this thread reminded me. It's dark in the hole and the star adjuster is low and hard to see unless you're at the right angle. Gotta look at it from the top of the hole with a flashlight, the adjuster is closer to the back side of the hole.

 

I just made an appointment with the shop thats been going round and around with this issue for weeks, they were a little dubious about this fix I suggested seings how the ebreak seems to be in good order but they are willing to give it a shot, its like... what the hell to we got to loose?? I'll letcha'll know how it works out.

 

Sub

 

My ebrake works and has always worked great, my pedal was feeling pretty squishy and I was having to press it about halfway to get the result I wanted. Spinning the adjuster firmed my brakes back up and now they feel just like they did the day I bought the truck (very touchy). It definitely improved the braking

 

I REALLY hope this works for me. Ill report back ASAP.

 

You have a round one on the edge to check the brake shoe thickness and the oval one just slightly off center towards the front of the truck. If it has been assembled correctly the star wheel has to be there.

Pull the drum and have a good look.

 

adjusting the rear brake shoes up snug against the drum did NOT fix this issue for me... we are going to try the brake booster next... damn it!!

 

Okay...so I'm under the truck and I found the Star Wheel. Its offset towards the rear of the truck on the passenger side...do I turn it away from me or toward me? From the under side....i went towards me or down, and it didn't do anything after a large number of turns.

 

Update: So I adjusted the star wheel OUT away from me, while under the truck. Did both sides until they stopped. Then used the reverse brake method to adjust them.

The truck definitely stops better and sooner. The pedal still doesn't "bite" like I'd like it too but she stops hard. Pedal is still a bit soft as well.

At this point, I think I'll order the new brake parts and do a complete fluid flush. Lord knows when it was last done and it's dirty.

 

The correct way as has been posted on here lots of places is to remove the wheel and install the lug nuts to hold the drum in place. Adjust the adjuster until the drum locks then back it off 15 clicks.

 

ss brake lines will stiffen the pedal feel some more and would be good timing to fit in with doing the fluid swap

 

What you posted earlier didn't say to remove the wheel or which way to actually click the star wheel, so I used the access window in the back to adjust them until I figured it out. As stated by others, you don't need to remove the wheel to adjust the shoes.

Truck definitely stops better now. Ill be doing all of the brakes and new fluid within a week.

 

I will be looking into the SS lines as well.

 

What I posted earlier was also a link to the shop manual for reassembling the brakes:

From the Shop Manual: http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old.../06toyrm/06toypdf/06rmsrc/rm2006ta/042010.pdf

Following the link you would have seen this:

1. INSTALL REAR BRAKE DRUM SUB-ASSEMBLY
(a) Install a new drum gasket onto the rear brake drum.
(b) Install the rear brake drum.

2. ADJUST REAR DRUM BRAKE SHOE CLEARANCE
(a) Provisionally install the hub nuts.
(b) Remove the hole plug, and turn the adjuster to
expand the shoe until the drum locks.
(c) Using a screwdriver, release the adjuster 15notches.
(d) Install the hole plug.

Of course you can do it with the wheel in place. That just makes it harder to adjust.
As far as which way to adjust it is the standard right hand screw threads.

Looking at the picture in the link I posted it says which way to adjust the wheel to expand or tighten the brakes.



It is also easier with a proper tool such as this brake spoon:

 

there are always two types of people...
People who did not replace their rear shoes properly. ( I blame YouTube)
People who never apply parking brake.

 

Looks like ill be adding some tools to the collection! Thanks!

 

Shoes are getting replaced in the next few weeks and I've been using the parking brake since I bought the truck. No idea why they were so far out of adjustment.

 

What is this? I don't remember seeing any sort of gasket in there at that position.