Little Problem after Off Roading

[Dous]

Okay, well anyway I went off roading today with a Heep, and ended up getting stuck in a little bit of watery mud.

On the ride home I noticed I had to press the brake pedal in much farther before the vehicle would start slowing down, I thought that was odd. When I got home I pulled up the parking break and it went up all the way. Before this it was really nice, I could put it up 4 or 5 clicks. When I got home it stopped when it hit the top of the console, it still worked, but this seemed odd. Anybody know what this could be? Thanks

:snacker:

 

[blcktpgsr]

Probably some minute debris that somehow got in the brake drum and is causing something to jam..after all you said it was fine prior to your mud bogging.:shrug:

 

[Jon]

Wet shoes, check the fluid level too. If light isn't on then fluid shouldn't be the prob. just adjust the rears.

 

[driffter33]

Buy the looks of the pic I would say open and clean your rear brakes then readjust.

 

[fightman80]

Do you have the Diff Breather mod? Maybe the factory diff breather clogged, caused the axle seal to blow, and he now has gear oil on this rear brakes??? I know my braking felt just like that before I got my seals and brakes replaced........

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Buy the looks of the pic I would say open and clean your rear brakes then readjust.

x3, reduced brake feeling is never fun.

 

[driffter33]

Do you have the Diff Breather mod? Maybe the factory diff breather clogged, caused the axle seal to blow, and he now has gear oil on this rear brakes??? I know my braking felt just like that before I got my seals and brakes replaced........

That would sure suck but it totally possible.

 

[Dous]

That would sure suck but it totally possible.

Yea you know I thought about the whole rear axle seal but I got under there and looked and didnt see any grease stains anywhere, now tomorrow I will take off the wheels and see for sure. I wasnt sitting for more than 5 minutes though, I had someone ready in case this were to happen. Also it seems like a blown rear axle seal would have nothing to do with the E-Brake pulling all the way up.

 

[chris360hawks]

If your axle seal blows and gets a ****load of grease on your drums then yes your parking brake isn't going to work well at all and will most likely go all the way up.

 

[Dous]

Okay, well I took off the drum on the drivers side and found that there was black grease on the edges of the pads. The inside of the drum also felt kinda greasy. I am assuming this is the the axle seal we had feared. What the hell do I do next?

 

[chris360hawks]

Change the axle seal.

 

[driffter33]

Here is the how to on rear axle seals! make sure you clean all the grease off . Drain and change the rear end gear oil and do the rear diff breather mod.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...e-information-replacement-thread-3rd-gen.html

Breather mod

4Runners.org - Type R Rear Differential

 

[Gerdo]

I would hose them down with brake cleaner and reassemble. Then check in a week or so. It could have just weeped a little.

 

[Dous]

Okay, well I cleaned them off now I can get the freaking drum back on? Can anyone tell me what to do here? I thought this would be an easy thing to do!

 

[FoneRunner]

Maybe adjust the shoes in until it goes on? Otherwise I'd get out the BFH....

 

[Dous]

Do I use the notched wheel to adjust them? The thing is hard as **** to move and if I try that the whole damn assembly moves, and the hammer probably wont get it the pads are spread like an 1/8" too far for the drum to fit

 

[FoneRunner]

Yes that notch is how they adjust...and its possible that thing is super tough to move if it hasn't been messed with maybe ever...if you can apply some wd40 without getting it on the pads that should help.

 

[Dous]

Okay, so I got it back on, now what are the rubber things at the top of the assembly there are two of them that attach to the pads. I accidentally kinda knocked on what and brake fluid squirted out! What did I mess up now?

 

[FoneRunner]

If you mean the brake cylinder boot then just make sure its on there...it seals the piston. Hit the brake pedal and make sure its ok. If its leaking it'll ruin your pads...

 

[TheDurk]

Don't hit the pedal with the drum off--it'll pop the pistons right out of the cylinder. The drum is the only thing holding it in. Make sure the piston (covered by the rubber boot) is seated in the cylinder; you may have knocked it out. If you did, you will need to bleed the brakes when you are done (probably a good idea anyway).

It really sounds like you should take it all off (shoes and springs) and lube up the actuator and the adjustment screw and grease the spots where the shoes contact the back plate. Read the online FSM and follow the steps. You need that adjuster working correctly to have good brakes. I had never done drums before (all disc cars before this one except my first--and then I didn't do brakes) and the FSM and a pair of brake spring pliers and a brake shoe hold-down removal tool were all I needed. I actually did one side without them, but it was such a pain I bought them for the other.