Searching the forum, but did not find much about how to replace the parking brake pads. Had the rotor off, have the pads in hand, but was staring at all the springs and gizmos, and could not quite figure out how to do it. Any good step by step instructions anywhere?

Also, where is the parking brake cable adjustment screw? Is it buried under the center console glove box (and you adjust it from inside of the car), like on toyota avalons?


2007 rx350

 

The brake shoes are not easy to replace.

Was there enough liming on the pads?

The system is supposed to auto-adjust.

Not so long ago, a member posted a page, that you can use as guide, but I must forewarn you that the set up is kept in place by springs. If you are not mechanically inclined, you may not be able to put it back.

You can let the system auto-adjust by repeated brake application and release (make sure your pedal travels to the max).

Search on key word 'start nut'

Salim

 

Looking at the pads, there seems to be maybe 15% of the pad left compared to the new ones. So, yes, I need to replace them.

I know what you mean. Staring at the sprngs and adjusters....made my brain hurt! But...it is not different than what replacing drum brake pads was back in the day, and people did that all the time DIY. We are getting too soft!

They must have been draging a little, and the self adjustment kept them draging enough to wear them down.

The E brakes do not work at all right now.

 

Not sure if this helps any...

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...placement.html

 

If you know what you are doing, dont let me discourage you.

Few things that eager folks forget to do is cover their nose/mouth and use vacuum to suck up the dust.

Yes it is the old classic self adjust drum brakes. Nothing special about them being on Lexus.

At the end when you assemble, you need to visually recognize every thing is fine, as all gets hidden once you slide the drum on.

There are special tools for the drum brakes, but you can wing it with long screwdrivers (for leverage) and my favorite electrician pliers. Rubber mallet is essential to knock the drum to settle every thing inside.

Salim

 

The self adjust mechanism never seems to do a damn thing in my experience. While it is 'supposed' to allow for brake pad wear, it does nothing for cable stretch, and I find it doesn't do much for pad wear anyway. I'm not even sure it is self adjusting, as the 'star' wheel can be manually adjusted.

You will need to adjust the 'star' wheel at the parking brake mechanism itself so that the pads are just backed off from dragging. Then you will need to adjust the mechanism at the parking brake pedal inside, till you are within the recommened number of 'clicks' for the parking brake to hold. I believe that this adjustment is for cable stretch.

I would suggest doing one side at a time, so you can refer to the one that's not disassembled if you need to.

I just did my parking brakes, and had to buy a kit with all the springs and doohickies, even though all I needed was the star adjuster, as one of mine had seized solid, and I couldn't turn it to adjust it.

Have a look here for some detailed instructions

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...djustment.html

 

Thanks,

So the adjustment for the cable tension is right at the foot pedal mechanism.

I had one rotor off and everything looked ok/unseized. I could turn the star nut with my fingers. Was not sure exactly how to get the old pads off, though, seemed to be held on by a spring with a top-hat washer.

I did find some clues here:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=328341

 

At least one step needed to remove the pads is the removal of the shim and the C washer, as they are called in that toyotanation diagram.

 

The star-nut was seized and thus the auto adjustment was not working for you. Good job finding the problem and fixing it.

Salim

 

I failed the state inspection for not having a holding parking brake. I took everything apart this morning to see if the start was just backed-off too far, but then saw that the shoes were shot. Therefore, I’m getting ready to tackle the parking brake shoe swap in the next day or so. Although the toyatanation link shows how to do this job for a Toyota, I expect it to be very similar for the RX330. Has anyone actually done this on their RX330?

 

salimshah, are you sure that the parking brake is self adjusting. I know that regular drum brakes are, but having looked extensively at my components, I see no way that the star nut can turn without manual intervention (i.e. me turning it myself).

If you look at the toyotanation diagram (which looks very similar to the system in my RX400h) from the earlier link (which I've posted below), you will see the 'parking brake shoe lever'. Compare this to the other diagram that I'm posting here ("Typical Drum Brake Parts), and you will see an additional component = the 'adjusting lever' which we don't have on our parking brake system, as it's not a full function drum brake, but a parking brake inside a rotor.

 

Um, why would they ever need replacing if their only used for parking? It`s not like they are active (for breaking) breaks? Unless you drive around with them half engaged or something.

 

Damn good question. Behind the second owner of my RX, I can't speak for the previous owner, but the pads were worn down and the hat of the rotor (where the pads grab) were deeply grooved.

However, other people are posting with a need to replace the pads, so there must be some reason the pad wear...

Maybe they are 'slightly' touching due to design?

The more I look at the diagrams I posted, the more I'm sure that they are not self adjusting.

 

Just an update. I don't believe there is any self adjusting feature on our parking brakes.

Now, referring to the diagram from toyotanation, to remove the pads here's what I did...(after spraying liberally with brake cleaner) Needle nose pliers or needle nose vice grips are very very very handy.

1. Remove the shoe return springs. This will allow the shoes to pull apart a little bit.
2. The shoe strut and shoe strut spring should now be able to come out
3.. Remove the cup, the shoe hold down spring and the other cup on the left hand side shoe (front shoe). You have to push the cup in against the spring and turn it a half turn to disengage it from the "pin" You must push the cup down far enough so you can turn it - you 'll see little prongs on the pin..these are what your are trying to disengage from when you turn the cup a half turn.

This shoe should now flop down on it's own and you'll see that it's connected to the other shoe by the 'tension spring' Slip the shoe from the tension spring and it should now be released. One thing I don't remember from my system is the 'anchor spring'.

The right side (rear) is the same with one additional step. After removing the cup, the shoe hold down spring and the other cup, you also need to remove the shim and the C washer.. This will then allow the right hand shoe to be removed from the parking brake shoe lever.

Installation (I love saying this) is the reverse of removal. Lol. Sounds easy, but getting those cups and shoe hold down springs on are maddening. The "pins" that the cup mounts on keep sliding backward. What I did was jammed a suitable sized screwdriver behind the pin (behind the metal splash shield, to stop it from moving back as I attempted to put on the cup.

Like removal, you have to push the cup down on the spring so that it's far enough on the pin so you can turn it half a turn to lock it into place.

On our system, you'll notice the head of a bolt behind where the front shoe sits. This bolt is holding the splash shield on I think. Anyway, make sure your shoe is on top of this bolt or towards the front of the car from it, or that shoe will not be able to move 'out' to push against the inside of the rotor hat. I found this out after tinkering for 1/2 hour wondering why only one shoe (the rear) was moving.

Next time I do this, I'll take pictures, but there is no way I'm taking all that crap apart again until after winter, when I always clean an lube everything after four months of salt/water.

 

I am confused, we all have disc brakes in the rear. Are they just discussing a rear drum brake?