I just got through changing the rear shoes on my 87 4Runner. I replaced everything correctly and the adjustment bar is fully compacted. I had just enough room to get the drums over the new shoes. Now I drove to test them out and my emergency brake just doesn't work (I know I connected it inside the drums), and the brakes work only once the pedal is almost to the floor. Before my front brakes engaged about 1/3 of the way down in the pedal travel. I am a little confused as to why my front brakes would get messed up because of a change in the rear? The only thing I can think of is that the pistons in the rear did squirt a little bit because they got pushed to one side (you know how you can push them one way or another or together). My brake fluid level looks good, but I am pretty sure that no fluid should have some out of the pistons, even after moving them.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Drive backwards while pressing the brakes. That will firm everything up. It resets the reverse screw at the bottom of the brakes.

 

actually, the adjuster works when you drive in reverse and pull the parking brake handle. as far as i know.

 

Did you replace the rear drums or re use them? If they're the old used drums, did you sand the rusty lip off the edge?

It sounds like your rear brakes are waaaaay out of adjustment.

Try adjusting your rear brakes a bunch of clicks... go until you can just hear the shoes scuffing when you spin the drum.

 

So I tried both driving backwards with brakes on and driving backwards with e-brake on - no difference. If I go ahead and remove the wheels and drums again, what is the procedure to adjust them? Just spin out the adjusting nut until I can just barely get the drums on?

Also - I cleaned the drums with brake cleaner and there was no rusty lip or anything.

 

You can adjust the rear shoes through the hole in the backing plate with the drum installed (which is the correct way to do it). Search on here for rear brake adjust, and you'll find everything you need. We've covered it lots.

 

Sounds like there way too loose.

 

All better now... just needed adjustment. Thanks everyone for your help!

 

no need to drive in reverse just the ebrake.. most domestics are the drive in reverse and hit the brakes hard type.

 

when i took them apart that's what it looked like, but people on here have said otherwise. thanks for clearing it up

 

Cool , alot of times like previous post said peeps do not get drums turned so there is a lip on the drum and you have to adj. brake adjuster after you put on the drums .