The '02 I have clicks 7 times before i can't move the Handbrake lever any more. Does that sound about right? And then, if I am moving at 5-10-20 mph and jerk it (the handbrake lever that is) as hard as I can, it does not lock up the wheels. Is that right or should I be able to lock em up? I could on my old car but it had car sized wheels. I just want to make sure that the brakes are in adjustment. I checked the other ways (jacking it up and spinning the wheels) and they seem to be. Thanks

 

why would you want to try and lock up the wheels?

Even factory you have big wheels and tires, so it takes a lot more effort to lock them up. 7 or so clicks sounds just about right. Check your owners manual, it will tell you.

 

Not that I would want to.....I just wanted to know if it did. If it doesn't then mine are ok. Mine just seemed like they are very uneffective

 

"why would you want to try and lock up the wheels?"

That's why it's called an emergency Brake. It is supposed to stop you when all else fails. It's not just for parking, Mike

 

but you dont want to lock the wheels up, just slow down in an emergency. Lockup=loss of control

 

2nd that... Thats why they developed ABS systems. How can you control your rig if your dagging the back wheels down the road.

 

Driftin' in a 4Runner??...anyway there is a thread on here that tells you how to adust your rear drum brakes after a shoe replacement and brake job, but that is for when it clicks in the 15-like whatever range. 7 sounds about right to me to( I just ran down to the garage) mine does 7 and 8 was really tight and a big pull. To adjust (in a safe place) put in neutral and let your rig coast down hill in reverse and keep engaging and releasing the e-brake as many times as you can, until adjusted to right tension.

 

Technically its not an emergency brake.Its a parking brake.If you have to use it in an emergency,you should have done repairs a long time ago!

 

7 or 8 is good. I had to get my rear drums resurfaced when it only clicked about 3 times...

 

You must not be old enough to remember when it was an emergency brake. It got that name for a reason, not just for the hell of it. There were very few people who one for parking only.They were made to stop you when needed and yes , they did lock up the brakes. Unlike the disc brakes of today when you hit the brake the wheels quit spinning on a dime, not a half mile later.

 

You can still control a vehicle with the rear wheels locked.

May not be perfect but it is steerable.

 

So, I guess the question still stands....does your Emercency brake lock up your wheels, because mine doesn't. It seems to take forever to slow to a stop.

 

The answer to your question is no, it will not stop you like that even if you had new back brake shoes and drums. Years ago it would have. It should slow you down as someone mentioned above. Find a hill and place it in neutral and while you have your foot on the brake pull on the emergency brake good and hard. Now let off the foot brake and see how it holds. If it doesn't roll then thats good. It should also not move while on flat ground and just idling in gear.
If you only get about 7-8 clicks before it gets tight that is excellent! As the back shoes wear down it will take more clicks. Use your so called parking brake every time you can. On a Tacoma that's what keeps your rear shoes adjusted. If your vehicle is stopping alright but you still have allot of play in the emergency brake lever ( 12 or over clicks) then you will need to adjust the cable because they do stretch after a while. Climb under your truck right on the drivers side and look up right about where the back of the seat would be out toward the outside edge and you will see the adjuster ( on most Toyotas, others may be different). It takes two wrench's if I remember right.Take up the slack and try it again. You will see a big difference.
At 7-8 clicks you have no problems with the cable........ yet. Mike

 

Great that all I needed to know. Now I can park or Um...I mean emergency stop, with confidence.