Heard some dragging on my right rear brake today. Thought it was time for new pads. Opened it up to find the parking brake linings shifted and pieces missing on the spring retainer on the rear shoe.



You can see the wear dead center on the edge of the rear shoe where it was contacting the inside of the rotor.

I don't have any real tips to offer, as I spent hours trying to get the spring retainers on. I was only able to get a hardware kit on a Sunday, so I didn't replace the shoes, but I figure it's only the parking brake... Not that I want to be in there again, mind you, but I had to do what I could do on a Sunday.

Followed a combination of these two videos:

2003-2009 Lexus GX470/Toyota 4runner Emergency Brake Replacement - YouTube

How To: Replace Parking Brake Hardware in a 4Runner, 5th Generation. - YouTube

I think the first was more helpful. I had to build the spring retainers once the shoes were in place. There was no way I was going to assemble the spring retainer, and then slide the shoes in to position. The keyed cap on the retainer for the spring just fell off too easily unless the spring was under tension.

I'm assuming this was like this for a while, considering the wear on the shoes. I'm also assuming the driver's side is just fine...

I can't wait to do mine!

using the small zip-tie method to compress the springs/retainers to keep in place to assemble. This made my put-together job literally 25 minutes per side after spending 2 hours on the first day and literally giving up. Highly recommended to take a look a this method for anyone looking to tackle the parking brake.

This method is the only thing that kept me from losing my mind doing this job and I'm a very patient guy with pretty nimble fingers that are not sausage sized.

likewise man.. I literally lost it on the first go-around. I had brake rotors flying across the drive way before I called it quits and literally just left it until the next day

I saw the zip tie method before but didn't think it would benefit me, boy was I wrong lol. 25 minutes is actually pretty conservative.. I think the second side I had together in a matter of 15 minutes lol.

The method sure does help but still tedious. The 2 or 3 times I've been in there I've needed extra zip ties. Either break one or it gets jammed in there somehow so needs to be pulled apart and a redo.