So I have a 1993 es300 with a 5 speed and the parking break doesn't work. And I definitely searched for this answer a few times but with no luck. I know there is a cog or something that you can access through a hole in the rotor but there's nothing in the hole but solid metal, no place for a "star" screw or whatever it is. I also know there is a way to do it from the center console but no matter how much I tighten the adjusting nut nothing happens. I'm all out of ideas. As a manual, and being a pizza delivery driver, it's very inconvienent not to have one. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

The brake cables seize up eventually especially the right hand side could be your issue. There is an adjustment cog it's accessible when the access hole is at the very bottom of the rotation.

 

As Lexus2000 said, cables can seize up, but more likely I think you just didn't look into the service hole while it was directly at the bottom.

You shouldn't be adjusting the parking brake lever in the center console unless you've already adjusted the rear. You could end up stretching the cable out too much. To measure this, it should only take you 5-8 clicks to pull the parking brake lever all the way up. If not, then the issue isn't in the lever at the moment, you need to adjust the parking brake. You adjust them through the service port, you keep turning the star adjusting nut until it locks the wheel then you back it off 8 notches.

What happened to cause the parking brake from working properly? Did you just change the brake shoes?

 

I had the hole at the bottom of the rotor and there was nothing but solid metal on the other side of the service hole. And no they didn't work when I got the car.

 

Is it possible someone put the rotor on wrong?

 

Yep. Remove the rotor and line up the hole in the hub with the one in the disc/drum. There are two threaded holes they make removing the rotor much easier if it's seized on. I think the bolts you need are M8x1.25.

 

okay perfect thank you! ill let you know how it goes