1st Gen Drum Brake Differences?

I'm replacing the brake shoes and bell crank and I've been watching a bunch of videos and reading threads here.

One thing I noticed is that it seems like some 1st gens have a different locking plate for the self adjusting mechanism. Check out this picture posted by WileECoyote here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drum-brakes.508363/ His parking brake lever and self adjuster locking plate are double stacked on the same leading shoe. The trailing shoe has no plates attached to it.





Now compare that design to the one posted here by IDTrucks (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/changing-rear-brake-shoes-with-mediocre-pics.287617/). His drum is the same design as mine, and the self adjusting lock plate is on the trailing shoe instead of being double stacked, and is held under tension by the spring labeled #3.



Does anyone know why some trucks have a different drum brake design? It doesn't seem to be consistent with model years. I've got everything put back together, but I'm struggling to get the locking plate to keep the adjuster wheel from going backwards. I've been looking for some good pictures of the locking mechanism, but it seems like most people have the double stacked drum brake design.

 

Here's a picture of originals from a 1999 PreRunner.

 

1995-2002 4WD and Pre-Runner and 1995-2004 2WD excluding Pre-Runner have the double-stacked type.
2003-2004 4WD and Pre-Runner have the separated type.

Jeff

 

Here is the diagram for the 2003-2004 4WD/Pre-Runner setup that you have. Hope it helps.



Jeff

 

That is, it shows the diagram for my drum layout. Here's the diagram for the other design:





[edit] Thanks for the model year info. I wonder what motivated the design change. The spring kit I picked up didn't include a spring for the 03-04 adjuster lever, but the old one seems fine. Everything is back together and working.

 

Different vendors between the years

Engineers decided the new system was better

 

You can also quickly tell the difference just by looking at the e brake cable routing on the rear axle. Older years have the ebrake cable higher up & runs on top of the leaf springs. Newer years the cable runs under the leaf springs. I thought it was 2002 when they made the change but I forget.

(Second pic is a Tundra but you'll get the idea)

 

The ebrake cable is down below on all 03/04. One of the few small differences between 01/02 and 03/04. Fly by wire throttle being another one.

 

There were other small changes made in 2002. 01 & 02 are not the same like I used to think. 03 & 04 pretty much are

 

Like? 02 has a driver oh shit handle. And ABS also became standard in 03/04.

 

Hmmm very interesting... Wonder what's involved to swap the late model arrangement onto an earlier model? I've got too many leaves stacked and it interferes with the e-brake cable running across the top...

 

I think everything from the backing plate outward and the parking brake cable. Only tricky part would welding some mounts onto the axle to hold the cable brackets I would think.

Jeff

 

Does the later rear brakes actually work or does this just address something they found with the E-brake?

In other words, do the shoes wear in 03/04?

 

The change was first made to the 4Runner for 2001, then made to the Tacoma and Tundra a year later for 2002.

Not entirely sure the motivation for the change, because it only happened in North America. The 4Runner/Hilux Surf in Japan, Europe and other places kept using the original design...

Jeff

 

Any benefit to the lower parking brake design?

 

They are more known for seizing on the Tundras and 4runners. I don't see as many older Tacos with seized parking brake levers.

 

Like the charcoal canister location. And what does any of this have anything to do with this thread & drum brakes? This has all been covered many years ago.

 

If you live in the salt belt, i disagree

I changed mine out last year and this year (pass/driver) due to them being fully corroded and seized up. I had pics somewhere

 

You're right, they just seize less often. We use tons of salt where I am, but we don't have any humidity.

 

found a couple for now. I'll have to track down my post