Skirmich

Hello Aziners!

Tomorrow I'll be doing my parking brake shoes for the first time in 13 years.
I have my parking shoes already but the store didn't have the hardware in stock that comes in tomorrow so I'll post my DIY sometime in the afternoon full with pics and detailed instructions on replacing the shoes and adjusting the parking brake!

Cya tomorrow!

3.2TLc

^^^ Very thoughtful indeed !!! thanks

This "DIY" for replacing the parking brake shoes would be very beneficial to fellow 'Ziners with their TL's getting older and sometimes neglected. When in there, make sure that the rear wheel bearings are good. The bearings may possibly be on the edge, especially if the rear discs have ever been cooked by a caliper hanging up.

Skirmich

I haven't replaced a single rear bearing in all my TL-S life
But I never neglect my rotors so I hope they are still fine, We´ll see!

3.2TLc

Yeah, good maintenance always pays off in the long run, as ya know all so well.

But most average owners don't know their car's previous history, so considering the age and miles
of our 2nd Gen TL's.....anything is possible for the average "Joe".

01tl4tl

its a simple old school type `rear drum brake job`- hidden inside the rear rotor

the axle gets in the way, but the correct `drum brake spring removal tool` will be very helpful!

ck the new shoes fit to the `drum` they ride in, take self adjusters apart to clean and lube threads lightly with some caliper grease

01tl4tl

please measure thickness of new shoes material-

I know its not very much, and easy for any mechanic/diy'r to think they are good-- or bad- depending on ones actual knowledge of the part!

3.2TLc

^^^ Yeah, make sure that the originals are worn past limits.
They really aren't that thick to begin with, and if ya don't use them much....who knows ?

Skirmich

Bad news guys seems aftermarket drop the ball on our aftermarket parking brake shoes. The centric ones I got don't fit at all when I tried to re-install the drum on top of it, seemed like it was engaged a little but the culprit was the little dove they have to ride in the hub. Seems the aftermarket cast is the same and they all have a little "V" shaped dove when we need a "C" shaped one. When all the parts are installed the "V" dove engages the parking brake making impossible to install it. I tried 2 different brands now: Centric and Duralast they don't fit as is.

Aftermarket dove <O> in Centric and Duralast shoes, engage parking brake.
OEM dove (O) in the worn shoes I got (Originals 13 yrs old) fits like butter and knife.
O = Hub post.

Thus unless I get raped and go to OEM pads I'll have to go medieval with my aftermarket shoes and a File. Will post more info tomorrow.

About thickness: dunno exactly how worn is the fact that I have less than 1mm of material in the center of my OEM shoes I definitely needed to change them haha, even the parts that still have some material is less than half of the brand new shoes. Will try to get a caliper anyway but can't make any promises.

3.2TLc

Hmmm, disappointing to hear about aftermarket fit, but not surprised.
The OEM's lasted 13 years, so for a few bucks more they may be worth the money.....
which ya saved by DIY labor replacing the PITA shoes. Good luck, either way !!!

fsttyms1

You driving with yours on?? I use my parking brake a ton in the winter to have fun in the snow, and the occasional need to slow in a hurry without brake lights being visible (cop/speeding) and the occasional ice racing day and i just replaced mine. Oh and OEM arent that expensive.

Skirmich

I dont drive with mine on but i have Never park my car without the parking brake first to hold the car and then engage park. My family used to live in San Francisco so it was basically a natural thing to do.

I quoted the OEM shoes at 49.99.
The aftermarket ones cost 15.99 and with the file add another 2.50 bucks.

Perhaps I'm being cheap but if the aftermarket ones hold at least 5 years I'm good with it.

01tl4tl

I thought our sponsoring dealers were selling the park brakes for ~35?
wont hurt to ask

Some spouses are known to back down the driveway with the brake loosely engaged when last parked
that's enough to cause wear,,, after only 14 years!
I too frequented the steep hills of SF and learned early about curbing the wheels- set the park brake fully, let the car settle against that, THEN engage park

For those unfamiliar with trans inner workings- park is not a gear like the others
rather its a J shaped `pawl` or hook then engages/grabs onto a drive gear to prevent trans movement and prevent the car from rolling away

when you engage the pawl- then allow weight of car to settle on it- on hill situation, it can be difficult to get it out of Park when you are ready to leave
the added tension/pressure having pushed things together tight!

01tl4tl

even today, there are many reports of different makes of cars not going fully into Park when you had put it there-
then roll away as the driver stands there,,,, KFC in one arm,,,watching it leave the driveway and head across the street! Yes, that was me, many a decade ago

Skirmich

THEY ARE DONE!!!! WoW the difference is enormous.. I had to push my emergency pedal up to 13 clicks for it to semi-engage and they where slipping anyway..


Now its 3 Clicks and the wheels lock!

ErickUa5

Too bad I didn't see this thread earlier, I would of warned you about the fitment.
I tried the ones from Advance Auto under the brand Wearever and they also didn't fit no matter what I tried.
Theres another member that had the same issue a while back and ended up going oem.

sophie18

Hello