It's a newbie day for me, I guess...

I adjusted my rear brakes this morning, for the first time. I went a few too many clicks (maybe) on one side. The tire won't spin a full rotation, but pretty close. I can't really see in there well enough to find the release that would allow me to spin the star wheel the opposite direction.

So on one side, I feel like I have just a very tiny amount of drag, but on the other, a good amount of drag. As long as they aren't dragging really bad, is it cool to just let the tighter side wear down, and figure it will get to where it's equal with the looser side pretty quick? Or should I try harder to see into that hole and find the release mechanism and loosen that side up?

I mean I know the absolute correct way would be to have the correct amount of drag, equally on both sides. But so long as the drag isn't terrible on the tighter side, is it just a matter of driving for a day or two and it'll be equaled out? I guess it partly depends on how much tighter it is on that side...

 

It's a good thing to learn how to do. You're already half way there. Now just get back out there and keep sticking that flat-head screwdriver in there until you get it pushing that plate thing with the spring on it back far enough that you can roll the adjusting wheel loose a click or two(with whatever tool you're using to do that).

Then adjust them the other/right way, by pulling the e-brake handle a few times.

 

I'm just using flathead screwdrivers.

I see in this thread you posted a diagram with the lever. Can't tell from the image...is the lever on the front side or back side of the star wheel, if I'm under the truck looking through the access hole?

 

Ok I got it. Below, and behind, if looking from under the truck out towards the wheel. I had to look on the other side, with no gas tank in the way so I could actually get my head above the axle and look down into the hole.

There must have already been a good amount of tension on that tire. I backed it out way more clicks that I had moved it forward, and there is still a good amount of drag. But it's turning much easier now with less noise.

Thanks.

For what it's worth, the threads I was seeing online say that the brakes should adjust on their own when you reverse, but rarely actually do; that the e-brake method is the "ghetto" method, and the "right" way is the way I was just doing it. I'm no expert, obviously, just letting you know why I was doing it the way I was.

 

Toyota Brakes once you have them manually adjusted are only tighten by application of the Emergency Brake.

Most American manufactures they do adjust when braking in reverse or at least the cars from my Youth.

It is process adjusting brakes one learns by doing it.

Get one brake tighter then the other it is possible that brake does most of the braking