Rear pads check

[Kyngfish]

Hey all. So I’ve been getting an intermittent brake light in the mornings and I was figuring it was the brake reservoir slightly low as a result of pad wear. My front brakes have plenty of pad life and I figured I’d give my rear drum pads a look. They look like they need a change at some point but nothing super imminent. Just looking for an objective opinion!



They’re all more or less in the same condition though some were slightly uneven in their wear (is that an adjustment thing?)

Thanks in advance.

 

[gamefreakgc]

It's very common for them to wear unevenly like that. Has to do with how and where the piston applies pressure to the shoes.

They will last a little bit longer but you will want to replace before you get metal-on-metal contact from the shoes.

 

[Kyngfish]

Went ahead and order the parts. Appreciate the confirmation.

 

[TheDurk]

FYI, on drum brakes, those are called shoes, not pads. Given how slow our rear drums wear, those could take you for a good long time. Minimum spec thickness is only 1 mm.

http://www.teamtoyota4x4.org/archivio/1996%20to%202002%20Toyota%204Runner%20Repair%20and%20Wiring%20Manuals/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/02toyrm/02toypdf/02rmsour/2002/024runne/br/rdb/insp.pdf

Ignore the part about uneven....unless REALLY uneven. Yours are about normal.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Those shoes look fine. Check your wheel cylinders though for signs of leakage.

 

[nevada]

check for leaks. if the front pads are good, the fluid had to go somewhere. drum brakes wont cause the fluid level to go down as they wear.

its possible at one point the fluid just wasn't topped off correctly, but double check for leaks just in case.

 

[nissanh]

Saw you order the shoes and hope those are OEM. The material on the OEM has a very high friction, so you need less pressure on the brake paddle to slow or stop the car. Other pads shoes that are not OEM will need excessive pressures at the brake paddle to force the car to stop, hence you wear out the brake masterpump and seals.

 

[Kyngfish]

check for leaks. if the front pads are good, the fluid had to go somewhere. drum brakes wont cause the fluid level to go down as they wear.

its possible at one point the fluid just wasn't topped off correctly, but double check for leaks just in case.

So I specifically checked the cylinders for leaks, inside the drum was bone-dry just crusty and old. I sprayed everything with brake clean and called it a day. The boots on the cylinders were also pretty soft, rubber felt good.

It's possible there's a leak somewhere, but it could also just be front brake pad wear, I put the new front pads on about 10,000 miles ago and topped the fluid right up to the line.

Are there any other known leak spots?

 

[nobb]

Brake shoes last a very very long time. If I had to guess, the thinnest part (middle) looks to be about 50% worn out. You have atleast 50,000 kms left on those shoes IMO.

 

[LittleCaesar]

How often do you have to fill the MC? Given your location, it may just be the humidity. My sis lives in Charleston, SC and my brother has to add fluid to her MC in her 2013 at least once a year.

 

[nevada]

How often do you have to fill the MC? Given your location, it may just be the humidity. My sis lives in Charleston, SC and my brother has to add fluid to her MC in her 2013 at least once a year.

uh, what? you shouldn't ever have to add to the MC. the fluid level will go down as the pads wear. if its going down faster than that, there is a leak somewhere.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Believe it or not it does. Even a brand new car in such an environment will lose a little fluid over the course of a year.

That is why it bears to know how often the OP has to fill his MC.

 

[Kyngfish]

How often do you have to fill the MC? Given your location, it may just be the humidity. My sis lives in Charleston, SC and my brother has to add fluid to her MC in her 2013 at least once a year.

I’ve had the car for 30 k miles and haven’t had to fill it once. New pads 10k miles ago and did a bleed then. Maybe a bit over a year now.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I’ve had the car for 30 k miles and haven’t had to fill it once. New pads 10k miles ago and did a bleed then. Maybe a bit over a year now.

Fill it but don’t lose any sleep over having to top it offf now and then when need be.

 

[Kyngfish]

Fill it but don’t lose any sleep over having to top it offf now and then when need be.

Honestly I never thought there was an issue with a leak, I just assumed it was pad wear so I checked my rear pads just in case. The front are new. I do have oil leaking, but it's definitely engine oil. When I get time I'll do my valve covers.