Is the Dealer Blowing Smoke About the Parking Brake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YctXVZB8_E

This is for a 4th gen but probably the same.

 

Yeah, mash it to the floor and mine don’t grab much either. If I forget to release it and drive off I can’t tell it’s even engaged. Except for the warning alarm screaming like hell.

 

Im in the exact same boat

 

One other thing to consider. It's not just the adjustment. Most people rarely use their e-brake and it results in the drum surface where the e-brake shoes contact to rust. If the contact surface has lot's of rust from lack of use the e-brake will not hold well regardless of it's adjustment. I try to make a point of applying the e-brake while in motion lightly on my '22 every now and then just to keep the contact surface as rust free as possible. And yes my e-brake will hold the 4runner. I guess I'm saying use it or loose it.

 

I'm old enough that vehicles I owned had an "emergency brake" and stomping on it would lock the rear wheels at any speed. I wouldn't depend on the 4R parking brake for anything. I forget that it's there.

 

Mine sucks too.

I've owned plenty of car and trucks from the 40s through present and am well familiar with a pedal/cable/drum parking brake. I put plenty of leg into it.

Mashed way down, it will hold the car but I wouldn't trust it.

Treating it as just another foible.

Jason

 

I will need to test mine. I will definitely need it to work while winching a boat back on a trailer at a boat ramp. I will check it in driveway first.

 

I never even thought that the e-brake would not hold... I use my Tacoma for boat launch, and, so far, have not had issues on the boat ramp. Something to consider though.

 

I just noticed this thread..

My parking brake is 100% useless. I can drive off with it engaged, and the only indication is the alarm.

I do have almost 75K miles on it, but I don't remember it being any better when it was new.

The parking brake on my '15 Tacoma was much better.

 

disc brakes have a parking brake ... now the other new vehicles have rear drum brakes.drum brakes have a speed E braking .. the disc brakes have small brake shoes and then the parking brake shoes will destroy when the vehicle is moving at a speed 10mph and higher .

buy your vehicle with a rear drum brake you liked it ....
I do not like drum brakes .. I had to inspect / clean /adjust then the drums do not machine the drums . shoes on the drums are not working with the change on the machine cut to a different circumference ..I have my 1984 camaro still own it bought july 1984 ..rear drum brakes .. nasty ...

 

Me too, it seems pretty useless to me. Once or twice I've forgotten to disengage it and didn't notice any drag when driving forward at all, but saw the warning light. At my first service I'll ask the dealer to adjust it.

 

Let me know how that goes, I have yet to take mine in.

 

I wanted to see what my LED reverse bulbs looked like during the day. I put parking break on and put in reverse. It stayed.

 

You’re fricken nuts lol

 

Can you detail how to adjust it? I did all four corners this past year, but didn't adjust the shoes/cable. The shoes looked brand new after 82k, FYI.

 

I can run really fast.

 

Here ya go. You Tube is your friend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it4BMOrM41g

 

Lol!

 

I just tested mine for the first time. I have a pretty steep spot on my driveway, so I put it in neutral and applied the parking brake. It pushed to the floor and wasn't very confidence inspiring, but it held the truck. I wouldn't have wanted to get out and walk away from it.

 

yeah, those shoes dont really wear since they don't share in any normal braking duties.

The video linked a few posts after your question, was tge same one I used as reference.

 

Thanks for that video. After the first comment in there I think I’ll just have the dealer do the adjusting.

 

Mine absolutely sucked from factory. Would not hold the vehicle on the slightest hill.

When it was new I asked the dealer about it. I got a lot of push back and was told I'd have to file a warranty claim and come back another day because "only lube techs are here today"
So I adjusted it myself.

Funny thing is my 2022 the parking brake didn't work and was way out of adjustment.
My buddies 2024 works great. Someone at the factory learned how to do their job correctly
Or maybe its just luck of the draw...

 

the boat trailer and the 4 runner the parking brakes ... the 8 clicks of the pads .... the drum is the axle the axle tight slower then the 8 clicks rotate..
the 4runner of the parking shoe feet in the inside 5 clicks ... left feet of the driver ..