So after 137,000 trouble-free miles of owning my 4runner I finally decided I should check my rear brakes (Not because I'm lazy, but I fear the drums).
Well after pounding away on my rear drums for more than an hour. I finally broke down and went to the auto store to look in the Haynes manual, to find out how to get the suckers off.
Apparently there's a rubber plug on the back side that you can pull off and check your brake pads.

So went home pulled the plug, grabbed a flash-light and lo-and-behold, I still have more than 3/4 of the brake pads left.



Man I love my TOYOTA...

 

sweet dude.... sweet

 

Did you have your emergency brake on while you tried to take the drums off? Just curious, as that would make it pretty difficult...

 

Toyota was actually quite smart in designing their drums. They put two threaded holes in the drum face where you can insert bolts that act to push the drum off.

 

man thats pretty good with all those miles

 

That's great, but how are the front brakes doing. I think they take more of a beating than the back. I've had to replace mine twice while the back brakes are still good. I think my rotors are probable warped. The next time I need front brakes I'm going to get a drilled and slotted Rotor and a better grade of pad.

Andy

 

i know this is an old thread, but does anyone happen to know exactly what size the bolts are that you use to push the brake drums off?

i think i found a bolt that is the right diameter, but not the correct pitch,

any help is appreciated

 

I purchased two different brake tool kits from Harbor Freight tools. One had all the bolts and pullers the other had all the spring pullers, etc. I think both kits were under $10 each and have come in very handy in the garage.

I have taken to buying the correct tools for the job, everytime I need them. This eliminated the need to get a bunch of tools that you never need but slowly helped to developed the correct supply of tools.

BTW, important hint. When removing drums that have been on for a while, use the correct size bolt to start pushing the drum off, get some good tension, THEN start hammering the drum. I had two drums that each had a stripped hole trying to get the drums off. The last one was so screwed that I got my torch out and cut the drum to pieces to get it off. I was doing a disc brake conversion so wasting time getting the drum off in one piece was not on my schedule.

 

i've already got the brake tools for the springs, unless there is some special tools i need, all i need is the bolts, hence the question about their size

 

"borrow" a couple of bolts that hold your skid plate in place. Worked for me.


Good luck,

Warren

 

Any metric bolt that takes a 12mm socket.

 

what years did they have drums for the rear my 2002 has drum i think 96-98 dont

 

Mine has drums. I think they only went to discs on the 2003's

 

thanks for the tip to the guy that mentioned the skidplate bolts, worked wonderfully, i wish other manufacturers would take a hint and have these threaded holes.

179,000 miles, and had about 1/16th inch left on the middle of the lead shoe, definately just in time

 

Glad I could help!

Warren

 

My 96 has drums in the rear. I just adjusted them today.

Mick