Parking Brake Woes

[4Fun]

Can anyone help me with a parking brake problem?

There is no resistance when I pull the handle up. The Toyota Dealer told me it was the plates that needed replacing in the rear brakes. To the tune of $400. Otherwise the brakes work just fine and is just a parking brake issue.

Has anyone done this repair before, or know which plates they are referring to? Is this a hard job to replace the plates?

 

[drmorbius]

It sounds like a broken or detached cable.

 

[Dirt4dinner]

Yank your rear wheels off and remove the drum. Take a good look around in there...chances are you can figure it out, and replace whatever is broken for just the cost of the part. I just replaced my rear axle seals, and while I was in there I did the brake pads, so I had it all torn apart (and I am NO mechanic). It's pretty simple stuff...might as well take a peek on your own.

 

[4Fun]

Are the rear brakes easy to work on? I've done American cars, but don't know if the 4Runners are a pain or not.

Sounds like getting to the axle seals is easy. No special tools required?

I did a brake job on my sons Talon. It was the brake job from hell.
I'm chicken sh__ on these foreign vehicles now.

 

[Dirt4dinner]

I wouldn't say the seals where "easy". The old ones are in there pretty good, and you have to get the new ones back in there nice and even.

However, the brakes were pretty cut and dry. Just like any other drum brake. Those were easy.