My Parking break shoes had to be replaced, and I finally got around doing this today.
Did one side by looking at the other, so I know I got all springs and levers in their right places, but I can't put the rotor back on, well I can force it on with a hammer, but that wouldn't be right. The parking brake drum hits against the parking break shoes and it get's stuck half way.

I know of 2 places where I can adjust the parking break 1) at the parking brake pedal, and 2) on the rear brakes them selves, I checked both places and they're both "loosened" all the way.

Has anyone else seen this? I'm so #@!#$@ mad right now, I just don't get it, what else could be done?

Thanks in advace for any and all suggestions.

'02 TL, Auto, 76k

 

It should be tight, but without being there I can't tell how tight it really is.

 

Thanks for your reply optomos!

OK, I can understand new brakes being tight, but so tight that I have to hammer on the brake disc really hard? There doesn't seem to be any clearance between the shoes and the drum, is this normal?

I read about new parking brake shoes break-in procedure, but something is setting off a red flag in my brains about trying to install any breaks that you have to force in.

 

you have to adjust them. turn in the (looks like a cowboy boot spur) and it will lessen the outward travel.

 

Thats the whole thing, it's loosened all the way, if I go the other way I can't even put the rotor/drum on there. I decided just to take it off, and take it to the dealer, have them figure it out.

 

BTW: would anyone here know what abouts this would cost?

Thx

 

Loosen the parking brake cable adjustment also (by the foot pedal). Make sure that the cable is pulled all the way loose. if its slightly pulled it will be expanding the brakes making it impossible to get the rotors on

 

I mentioned in my inital post both places are loosened all the way, I even went as far as removing the center console (arm rest) and unhooking the cable completley from the thing-a-magic that connects both wheels to one cable, no difference, the cable at the brake it self is completely free and loose. I'm starting to think that I got a defective set of brake shoes, but don't know for sure since they look very much like the old ones I took off, for the exception that my old ones are worn down to the metal (passenger side only, driver side is fine) so perhaps something wrong with the whole brake/rotor/hub assy.

Thanks for the suggestion though

 

its possible that the pads are defective. If you wore out 1 side it would lead me to believe that one is hanging up while driving, and was improperly put together or something was wrong to begin with. maybe try getting a different set of pads to compare size and thickness?

 

That's what I'm thinking as well, but I spent my fair share trying to resolve this on my own, I'll have the dealer do it this Sat. I'll report back if they find something unusual w/ my setup, just so if anyone else if banging thier head against the wall trying to put a fresh pair on they will have some addition info on what the cause may be.

Thx for all the suggestions, I'm glad that It wasn't just me being crazzy and that there really are only 2 places this is adjustable.

 

Any word on what the issue was?

I am replacing mine and they are pretty tight, but dont seem as bad as yours.

 

The dealer said they had absolutley no problems, however the took all day to fix this

They gave me a loaner, so I don't know if they planned on taking all day or did have some problems and didn't want to admit it. I'm pretty sure that the parking brake shoes was the problem, I bought mine at NAPA, next time I'll go to the dealer for these kind of parts. The dealer only charged me for labor and shoes.

 

Atleast they got fixed. How ofen do you use it that they wore out.?? Im still on the originals at 200+k and i use it alot

 

I got the car used, drove it home, heard a rattling noise when I hit a bump in the road, at first I thought it was the hub, took it apart, and when I got the rotor/drum off, my parking brake on one side just spilled out (the other side is fine), it looks as if the owner before me drove this way for a while too. I personally always use the parking brake... a habit from when I drove stick, also seems to shift into gear better if parked on a hill. At any rate that parking brake will never wear out unless I forget to take it off.