The E-brake does work!

I was convinced the e-brake was just a piece of crap and was incapable of holding the vehicle on the slightest incline, but to my surprise at 72,000 miles I now have a functioning e-brake for the first time since brand new. I changed my brakes/rotors at 70k and took this opportunity to dial in the e-brake for the new rotors. The OEM states to adjust for 5 turns from any drag to the rotor, but I adjusted just to the point that the rotor did not drag (maybe 2 turns). The e-brake now holds the vehicle in the driveway and actually works pretty well for the first time. From the factory this was a useless e-brake and now it actually works!! I did not touch the adjustments on the cable or pedal, just the star wheel within the rotor itself.

Just sharing.

 

I was pretty happy once I dialed in my parking brake too! If you live or drive in any areas with inclines, these things need to work. Even more so in off-road situations. It really sucks that Toyota sends out new 4runners with such poorly adjusted parking/emergency brakes.

It’s worth noting that I occasionally need to “re-bed” the shoes by fully applying them from 20mph to stopped. Although, in my case that might be because of muddy water getting in there during off-roading excursions.

Actually, after going through mud/muddy water up to the axles, it’s probably best to take the rear rotor off to hose everything out as post-trip maintenance.

edit: mine was particulalrly bad from the factory. There are additional points of adjustment under the center console, which I also needed to do. This thread has how I ended up adjusting mine:https://www.4runners.com/threads/fed-up-with-parking-brake.28247/

 

the parking brake ..........take the caliper off ... then the parking brakes of the shoes ... cleaning it up.... lube it and the adjusting it ..the caliper sanding it inside the parking brake and cleaned it .
the parking pedal 6-8 clicks ...

MY 4RUNNER IS A GREAT JOB INSPECTING IT ALL THOSE BRAKES .. CALIPERS CLEANED IT AND THE LUBE PINS !!!!!!!!!

 

Yes,They function very well when properly adjusted.

 

Whooah there man! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves! “Adequate” ok sure, if perfectly adjusted. But not that sure about “very well”

 

Agree, I guess it depends on the grade.hola.

 

Same here, much better after I did rear rotors and re adjusted.