2003 4runner Rear Park Brake Fun

This past weekend I rebuilt the rear Park brake. What a pain. I took a few pictures to help the next guy. Compressing the springs is the key.

I used this video to keep things going the right direction.

https://youtu.be/I8MqhrZ9MD0?si=hQF-9NSP3Je0THns

Anyone do this differently? 4 hours on left side, 2 hours on the right.

 

I wanted to add a tool I used to help compress that cat and make it a little more manageable. Snap on part#S6118A.

https://b2b.snapon.com/productDetails/636113/2/885321

 

My parking brake sucks, probably needs some attention. Literally doesn't do anything even on the slightest incline.

 

Wire certainly works to compress the springs, but using zip ties are easier to use and remove.

 

There’s a cable adjuster under the center console. I would start there b/c the rebuild process is among the worst jobs I’ve done on my truck. The whole star wheel thing is a ridiculous means of adjustment.

 

I wish my hands were smaller was my first thought when I started this.

Toyota told me that they wouldn't adjust the Park Brake due to the shoes & hardware being too old. They wanted to replace the whole setup at $800. I bought the rebuild kit for $80ish and called it a weekend.

The reason for even going into the Park Brake is that I need to have it inspected by DMV and 2 working brakes is required.

This weekend I will be going into the center console and hoping that adjustment gets it to grab. Currently the pettle just clicks to the floor

 

I've successfully adjusted my parking brake by tightening a bolt next to the ebrake pedal itself. There was a thread about it in the 5th gen section not too long ago.

 

There's 3 places to adjust these, first is do the proper adjustments at the wheels, then under the console and then lastly at the parking brake pedal.