1999 4runner, Changed rear seals and still no rear brakes??

[rmoore]

Hello everyone

With the help of this forum and great tech articles I was able to change my rear seals which leaked all over the rear brakes. The reason I checked them was I could apply the brakes and the rears would not stop no matter what. I thought for sure this was the issue, But I think i must have two problems. After replacing the seals, I cleaned up the backing plates and all hardware, replaced the Shoes and the drums, I bleed the brakes and adjusted the brakes so they just scrape when spinning the wheel.
I still have no rear brakes, If I jack up the rear and just put it in drive I can brake as hard as i want and the rears slow down but do stop. When testing on gravel the fronts lock up but the rears do nothing of any amount. I thought proportioning valve but i read where 1999 4runners 4wd with ABS do not have a Proportioning valve. What can I try or look at next to try to troubleshoot this problem??

Thanks
Ray

 

[Singtoe]

You need to bleed the brakes thoroughly. The abs pump seams to hold a ot of trapped air.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Get the ABS to activate once, then bleed the brakes again.

 

[rmoore]

Thanks for the replies

I got the ABS to kick in stopping on some gravel, I will try to rebleed the brakes and see what I get.

Thanks
Ray

 

[YotaZach85]

Is the pedal soft? You may need to go a little tighter on your adjustment if the pedal is nice and firm. Have you tried yanking the ebrake when you're on the gravel?

 

[noneckrex]

Same issue. I was told it was my master cylinder. But that was from a mechanic at sears. I have bless my brakes several times. Still nothing either.

 

[rmoore]

It's about 98 degrees out there tonight so was waiting until tomorrow to bleed them again , BUT I was thinking back about when I was pulling the E brake cables off, it seemed like the ebrake lever on the backing plates was not moving at all. I sprayed with PB Blaster, tapped it with a hammer and tried to push on it a bit and both passenger and driver would not budge. I thought I just did not have enough torque on it and said Oh Well. I went out tonight and had my wife pull the ebrake on a few times and the cable is pulling but the levers on the backing palte does not budge. Am I on to something here??? If they are stuck could they keep the shoes from going out far enough?

Thanks
Ray

 

[LittleCaesar]

The bellcranks could be seized up. And yep, that is a problem. Just follow the Ecable along the axle to the back of the drum and remove the rubber boot and see if rust is preventing them from moving.

Someone posted a great PDF writeup I think in May on replacing them. Maybe another member has it saved or linked.