salimshah

Star is the cogs on the end of the self adjusting nut. The drum brakes kind of float and self center in the drum. So when you assemble the shoes need to be pulled in so that the drum can go over. I am guessing that there are 60 or so spikes on the cog/star. If you rely on self adjusting it will eventually self adjust but each operation will move the cog by one. So a good mechanic will try to center the brakes and rise the shoes so that the drum can go over and the brakes do not touch the drum.

Salim

Barryst

Salim is correct!

I moved mine in pretty close. (Using a screwdriver through the hole.)I had both rear tires off so I could spin it a little to feel the drag.

trhs75

When I replaced my rear rotors, I was surprised to see that one of the ones on the vehicle did not have the adjusting hole. I think someone put on a cheap rotor somewhere along the way. The Lexus rear rotors I installed both had the hole.

salimshah

One of the things that goes bad with the drum, is when the shoes cut a groove and end up riding higher in the drum. If there is no way to turn the star nut down, the drum will not come off.

Salim

Nad1370

8 x 1.25 is the bolt you need as everyone here said.

But here's a link on how to avoid headaches taking off the rear drum.
Refer to post #8
And yes...they are set-up like your ES300

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...ml#post5450688

Barryst

For some reason, I thought my star adjuster was at the top!

-I must be loosing my mind.....

TPenguin

I'm assuming 8mm x 1.25 thread pitch is the same for an RX330, can't see why this would have changed between models but can anyone confirm that? I just did brake pads this morning on my wife's RX330 because I had rotated tires recently and saw the pads were worn almost down to the squeaker.

After replacing the pads my wife tells me she has noticed the steering wheel vibrating when medium to hard breaking at 45mph+. So I'm going to replace the front rotors soon but while changing brake pads I saw the two bolt holes on the front rotor but didn't have a correct sized bolt handy to verify what size/thread pitch would work to separate the rotor from the hub. I will pick up a 8mm x 1.25 thread pitch bolt and give it a shot in two weekends when the rotors arrive but if someone definitively knows for the RX330 and could confirm it would be appreciated. Thanks.

carguy07

I know for sure that they are the same on the rear of the 330, safe bet that the fronts are too.

TPenguin

Thanks I went to ace and picked up a couple bolts. I will chime in with my results after doing the rotors, should be good.

TPenguin

Bolts worked on removing the rotors, pulling the rear rotors tomorrow to replace them.

Baetke

Here's a link to a YouTube video showing how to do a complete rear brake job on a 1999 RX.



Baetke