Another Drum Brake Problem

Alright so my rear brakes have not been adjusting since I redid all the components a year or so ago. I have been manually adjusting them every couple months but I want them to self adjust. I've done my reading and I am at a loss. I adjusted my parking brake cable to take up slack at the bellcranks and the turnbuckle. The tab on the adjuster lever is underneath the adjuster mechanism. the mechanism is from Raybestos. I need someone smarter than me to help me out. Here's a video of it working (or not working) over on youtube.
https://youtu.be/Ir79Mid6wAY

 

If I had to guess, the rear adjuster tab isn't situated into the correct spot to catch the star wheel and advance forwards. That might be hard to see if you're just using the parking brake. I'd have to look at my own drum brakes or someone else's here like @FirstGenVol to see if it's assembled correctly.

 

Something isn't right with your assembly.

 

It's different starting somewhere around '03ish. The auto-adjust arm is to the rear on the newer trucks. But it's definitely not moving the way it should.

@2006 Tundra AC did you follow the FSM with regard to properly setting the bell cranks etc.

 

Shifty is right. They changed the parts at some point and I don't understand how the updated version is supposed to work. I do know that the bell cranks should be adjusted first before you slide the drum back on. I didn't do this recently and it took several days to get it adjusted correctly.

Here is the video I made a few weeks ago but you can see the parts are different on my 2002.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Zi1t2npPdEo?si=LNA1cag-GKLoy5HQ

 

Make sure to read this post where I mentioned adjusting the bell cranks.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/rear-brake-adjustment-theory-and-practice.99575/page-2#post-3378276

 

Yep, followed FSM procedure.

 

Yeah, I read that when you posted it. That was what inspired me to take a look at them again.

 

Whatever I am doing wrong, I am doing wrong on both sides. Both of them act the same way.

 

I will add that even though my self adjusters are working and even after I adjusted the bell cranks, I still had to manually adjust the star wheel more to get the shoes closer to the drum. I was amazed at how much of an impact the bell cranks have. At one point I turned the set screw on the bell crank just a little bit and I could no longer spin the wheel. I had to back off the bell crank. The bell cranks control the slack in the e-brake cable. Too much slack and they won't pull the shoes enough.

I would need to see more video or pictures to know why your self adjusters aren't working.

This post might be helpful because @DarkMint has the same rear brake parts you do.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/drum-brake-star-adjuster-lever-revisited.94151/#post-2498592

 

Heres some more pics. See anything I missed?

 

Someone else posted a similar problem and showed pics. I’m not sure they have a solution though.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/rear-drum-automatic-adjustment-for-2006-dc.124471/#post-3186161

 

How well is your e brake working?

 

It worked great as long as I had manually adjusted it. Once it became weak it was a sign I needed to adjust it again.

 

I am stumped. I've been trying things and have had no ideas. Even looked on TS for ideas and nothing. Guess I'll think about it tonight and put it back together tomorrow if nobodies got anything.

 

I watched your video again and it looks like the little arm that should be spinning the star wheel isn't working. Everything looks to be installed correctly from my couch. I wish I could see it in person. I don't know what would cause it to not work.

 

The video makes it look as if the adjuster doesn't have enough motion to it.

 

Yeah thats what i've figured but im not sure whats causing that. Ive tried different spring orientations and adjusting the bellcranks etc, but to no effect.

 

I realize they don't seem to make matchbooks anymore, but matchbooks made a really great spacer for working on points (ignition) bitd. Given the tolerance required for the bellcranks on these trucks, you may want to stick something about the thikkess of a matchbook lid, maybe folded in half to space things out. Not sure if you've already checked it but for our '06es, here's the FSM page, which is scant, they want you to reverse the install instructions, but this is the meat of the annoying part.

I virtually always need to use reference material when working on drums. Without fail. And I never get things right the first time.

​

 

Maybe the fact the mechanism is from Raybestos and not OEM is what’s causing a problem if I understood you correctly. @DarkMint ‘s issue was resolved by going back to an OEM star wheel instead of the Napa equivalent he was using and having issues with adjustment.

 

I thought about that but I can't find my oem star wheel. maybe I threw it away? My understanding is they don't sell those anymore either... I will adjust the bellcranks one more time after dinner.

 

I wonder if they still make them for 2004-2006 models. In my case, I had to go with NAPA because that side was discontinued by Toyota. Thankfully my NAPA self adjuster is working.

 

This guy looks like he has a similar problem to me. This was two years ago though and he hasn't posted a solution.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3HGcEqOW7U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rFjvsoHf_4

 

Did you do one side at a time? Were the rears disassembled at some point before (components replaced)?

 

Yeah, when I replaced them a year ago I did them one side at a time and had pictures and watched videos. I am confident I replaced them correctly. I think they might have been disassembled before but I'm not sure to what extent. I don't know whether just the drum got taken off or it was all disassembled.

 

Maybe the new star wheels need to be hit with a triangular file to give the teeth more bite?

the tundra brakes havent given me trouble yet, but i remember my 4runner brakes being alot like playing with one of these.

nothing fit right until it did.

 

Yeah, I'll try it. I was also thinking about bending the adjusting lever a outward hair so that it rests on the star wheel.

 

Am i understanding this correctly?...
1 (a)- i need to remove the two bellcrank springs from the bellcrank before i “lightly” pull on it?
And if so, then i assume that needs to be done with the drum removed?

Reason being is that i just installed new shoes and had my drums turned. The rear end is currently sitting on jack stands, and even then, the rear brakes don’t seem confidence inspiring when laying on the brakes.

 

I think so. The idea is to take the slack out of that little cable that controls the e-brake/front shoe.

In doing it with the drum off you can watch that cable. That's what I forgot to do before reassembling and it made it a lot harder to dial everything in.

Like you, the first time I drove the truck it was clear I had no rear braking going on.

 

The guy in those videos is me. Go to the thread linked by @FirstGenVol and check out post #28 in which I explain why my lever was not properly contacting or adjusting my star wheels.
Since you've gotten rid of your OEM star wheels my first suggestion is finding a way for the star wheel slot to open up a bit more so it can properly fit. As you can see in my photo, the improper fit is not immediately apparent.