To begin, I have replaced many brake shoes. Some of my vehicles have brake shoes all the way around. I have a special tool for the hold down springs, that looks like a screwdriver, but the end of it grabs the hold down spring cup, and then you push and turn. This tool will not fit thru the hole in the 4 runner. What I used was a bit holder, that looks like a screw driver, and abraded the end of it so it would grab, and not just spin in the cup. The bit holder fit perfectly in the cup depression, and also fit thru the hole in the axle plate. This allowed me to push and turn the hold down spring cup. On a side note, if you look in the hole in the axle plate it is partially blocked by a plate behind it. If you were to file this plate to open the hole fully, you would be able to get a straight shot at the hold down spring cup. As it is you have to be at a slight angle. At least mine is set up that way. Also, I put a dab of rtv on the back of the bottom spring cup to hold it in place. This allowed me to fiddle with the spring. Just wanted to pass on the info, and another option to try. 06 4WD. It still wasn't that easy.

I replaced my 3rd member this winter and need to get my parking brake shoes back on. Thanks for the tips!

funny cause i didnt need to removed my parking brake when removing and installing 3rd member.

If it is just the four bolts that hold the axle in, I believe it would be less frustrating to just pull the axle, and have free access to the parking shoes.

It's there a write up for changing them, just realized I didn't put the parking brand shoe back on after I had to change the axle seal

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There are several write ups on the procedure. Just search. Speedkar99 has a youtube to get you on the right track. The hold down spring installation is not really shown though. I wish I was able to youtube the procedure that I used, but I am still in the drum brake era.

Then you did it the right way! Lol

I should have only removed the leading shoe, but I took both off. The trailing shoe is really hard to get lined up, so I left then off.