Rear brake self-adjusting way too tightly.

I recently replaced the brake shoes, drums and hardware on my 2003 SR5 4X4. I installed the shoes and associated hardware (springs, seats etc...) in the same locations and orientations as the old hardware, so I am 99% certain this is not the issue. I did take a picture before I began.

I adjusted the shoes as I have on every other vehicle I have owned, with very slight drag on the drums. I backed the parking brake off entirely before the job, then readjusted it and ensured the wheels spun freely afterward.

Three days after the installation, I noticed my rear passenger brake drum was sizzling hot and I had not been braking excessively or driving fast. I jacked the truck up and spun the wheels, the driver's side was fine, the passenger side was nearly locked up.

I have no rust or corrosion on any of my components and the parking brake cables appear to be in good working order. The wheel cylinders moved freely and did not have any indication of leaks. Fluid level was fine as well.

I have had this bastard apart 4 times, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why it continues to do this. Nothing seems to be binding or otherwise locking-up.

Has anyone had the same issue? Can you offer advice?

 

is there anyway the adjuster is in backwards? It should move the adjuster wheel in reverse not forward motion. IIRC

 

If I remember right the smaller pad is towards the rear of the vehicle

 

All the components are in the same orientation that they came off. I was really hoping this was my problem since it would be an easy fix! I took a picture of each side before tearing into them, so I am very sure that I at least installed the parts where they need to be.

 

Adding to this, the shoes were configured right out of the box in such a way that they could only be installed one way.

 

can you tell if its the emergency brake pad or the normal stopping pad that is dragging?

 

I am almost positive that it is the E-brake pad (front shoe in my case). The thing is, I backed the parking brake off until it was basically useless just to convince myself that the parking brake wasn't causing the problem. I checked the pin that the parking brake lever was riding on, and it was seated correctly with the E-clip in the right groove.

 

So to remove the drum you needed to back the adjuster off quite a lot??

Looked things over saw no major problems put the drum back on and adjusted the adjuster to where you liked the feel??

Only to road test having the same fault .

Bellcrank moves free in the bell crank bracket Here in the great rust belt they seize quite often should not be as much of a problem where you are

Just how did you back off the Emergency brake ?? Quite easy to disconnect it at the bell crank and tie the cables up.



It is possible the arm that locks the adjuster is bent enough that it ratchets more then one click upon emergency brake use.

Another thing the spring keeping the tension on the lock might be having issues .

It could be the wrong one or just soft

Have you ruled out that it is not the wheel bearing??

You are getting the burning brake smell??

Wheel cylinder that allows fluid in but never fully releases each brake application gets more and more till the shoes never leave contact with the drum.A kinked brake line can allow fluid in

Seen both these issues over the years

 

When you did the shoes, did you do one side at a time, so you'd have the other side for a reference?
Any before/after photos of the result?

 

>> I recently replaced the brake shoes, drums and hardware on my 2003 SR5 4X4. I installed the shoes and associated hardware (springs, seats etc...) in the same locations and orientations as the old hardware, so I am 99% certain this is not the issue. I did take a picture before I began.

I adjusted the shoes as I have on every other vehicle I have owned, with very slight drag on the drums. I backed the parking brake off entirely before the job, then readjusted it and ensured the wheels spun freely afterward.

Three days after the installation, I noticed my rear passenger brake drum was sizzling hot and I had not been braking excessively or driving fast. I jacked the truck up and spun the wheels, the driver's side was fine, the passenger side was nearly locked up. <<

You have described the problem I had a year ago. EXACTLY!!! Right down to the smallest detail, except it was the driver's side rear brake that was tightening up.

I can offer no advice.

I'm not sure what the cause was or what I did to correct it. The only thing I know is that problems that go away by themselves come back by themselves.

In addition, when that problem was evident I also noticed that when I braked fairly hard after reaching over 80 mph I was rewarded with a loud rumble until I released the brakes. And also, very rarely, the truck would slowly, over a mile or two, develop some kind of wobble that seemed to come through the steering wheel. The wobble would gradually disappear after 3 or 4 miles and would not return until many months later. At first I thought it was the road but when I drove the exact same stretch later that year the ride was smooth as silk.

My driver's side rear brake shoes also locked up. I jacked up the truck and backed off the shoe adjustment until I heard no sign of drag, then tightened it up until I could just hear the drag begin.

That was last year, and so far, the problem has not returned.

I've had my front end checked twice since then and there are no signs of looseness or worn parts. The truck now has 90K miles on it and right now it rides like brand new, except for the usual door and dash rattles.

If you ever determine the cause and fix for this problem, please post it 'cause I'm sure that you and I are not the only ones who have experienced it.

 

Yeah, it is definitely the brakes... cooked brake smell and searing hot drum. The wheel bearing seems to be fine. I think you may be onto something with the wheel cylinders. My truck is rust free, it has been in the desert its whole life, so the cables and linkages are free. I backed the parking brake off just beneath the cab on the driver's side, before the cable splits to each wheel. I have checked nearly everything you have mentioned except the wheel cylinders, this is why I am so confused Between getting the wrong shoes 3 times and this lockup issue, this has become the brake job from hell.

 

I am wondering if the proportioning valve is working correctly. I really don't see how it could go bad, but I am out of ideas.

 

Did you have the rear hard lines off is it possible you got dirt in the line kinked the line ??

By chance did you get the wrong anchor pins (holding the shoe to the backing plate) on that side might be two long allowing the shoes to move to far and become hung up. Then removing the drum allows them to spring back into the normal spot .

Allowing everything to look normal.

We all have things that go like this from time to time.

Sometimes these things turn out to be something so simple yet impossible to see.

 

typically that just splits the front pressure from the back

 

Is your truck lifted? There is a load sensing proportioning valve at the rear axle. If it is not moved with a bracket to accommodate the lift it could cause your issue.

If it is not lifted the LSPV could still be bad

 

Try bleeding the rear brakes.

 

my guess is the load valve out of whack. Mine had issues years ago. I don't think I've had rear brakes since I just bent the hell out of the bar to make it stop. No big loss unless you pull a trailer.

 

Here are some photos I took when doing my rear brakes, a couple of years ago. Maybe you can see something that can help you.
The is the driver-side, however, and your 2003 may be different than my 1999

 

Came across this looking for answers about my drum brakes becoming overtight. I had the exact same experience after heavy braking (like almost emergency braking) causing rumble&+wobble. One time after avoiding a deer on the highway and I never noticed a brake issue after(could have missed my radar) but then it happened two night ago when someone went trough a stop sign and noticed the issue with my tight drum/shoe today after it sat on Xmas for a day. I Also had to back down a long driveway shortly after the hard stopping incident and I know that engages the self adjusters so was thinking of that as the culprit and them being unrelated issues but idk. Curious how this all plays together. Any luck figuring it out?

 

No your wrong Toyota`s adjust the rear brakes by using the parking brake unlike domestic vehicles that adjust the rear shoes by a brake application in reverse .

Check that the parking brake is working correct

If your in the cold temperatures that can cause springs to do strange things

Enough Moisture in brake fluid it can freeze.