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Old January 8th 18, 08:03 PM posted to alt.home.repair,rec.autos.tech
Mad Roger
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Posts: 61
Default Drum brakes - do you disconnect the parking brake cable?

On Mon, 08 Jan 2018 13:36:04 -0500,
Clare Snyder wrote:

> Take the vehicle to a mechanic and have the brakes professionally
> repaired. You are not mentally equipped to do the job (not saying you
> are stupid, but you don't understand the implications well enough to
> do the job adequately.


That may be true, but I think I should be mentally equipped for something
as simple as a brake job (for example, I've done disc brakes for decades).
I've just never touched a drum brake before so everything is new.

That's why I'm doing my homework before tackling the job, which is why I
ask you for advice.

My main question was the PROCEDURE, which seems to not need me to
disconnect the parking brake cable anywhere other than actually inside the
drum assembly. That was the main question.

The secondary questions will abound, based on what people ask me, such as
someone asked why I considered 295 mm to be 2mm on the safe side over the
297 mm drum diameter.

Also the implication that "something is wrong" is perfectly natural since
the front bottom half is worn more than the rest after 175K miles, but it
seems from Googling that this is normal on Toyota rear drum brakes.

There's something in the math as shown here - but it's too triggy for me.
https://s13.postimg.org/4g0jxrng7/diagram_0.jpg

This is what someone wrote about why the Toyota wears in the front bottom
https://s13.postimg.org/l3s1zwn93/diagram_1.jpg

> You LIKELY need new cabvles, and ot cyls, and
> or adjusters along with the shoes


I would be happy to replace anything that seems bad, but nothing seems bad
at this point other than the shoes are worn. Other than leaks (which I
don't see, nor is there any indication of loss of brake fluid), what's the
test for new cables, and cylinders and adusters?

Here's a closeup of the adjuster:
https://s13.postimg.org/senkcelrb/brakes_drum_1.jpg

Here's a picture of the parking brake setup:
https://s13.postimg.org/5egwznnt3/brakes_drum_2.jpg

And a closeup of the parking brake cable:
https://s13.postimg.org/b2n7qr2hz/brakes_drum_3.jpg

What is the test for worn condition?

> which you MOST CERTAINLY can NOT
> just swithch positions.


This is an important question, which you've now answered (as did someone
else who said the larger shoe is the rear shoe). This means "rotation"
every few years isn't possible.

> The adjusters should have been backed off to
> replace the drums.


I see that now, as the drum required a good few mallet hits to get it back
on. Not too many. But a few. Next time I'll turn the star adjuster before
putting the drum back on.

Thanks for the advice!
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