1990 Celica GTS Parking Brake star wheel

[5OBassman]

Just bought a used (116K) GTS that was in excellent shape with one exception. The parking brakes were so over-adjusted that it wouldn't roll freely. Had a bitch of a time getting it home and into the shop. It's now up on jack stands and I've disassembled the rear driver's side brake completely. What a mess! Shoes had delaminated from the steel and things were so corroded that nothing moved freely. I'm now reassembling the whole rear brake system with all new Toyota pads, shoes, disk/drums, pins, caliper boots, bolts, and springs but I'm doubting my memory regarding the orientation of the star wheel. Which direction should I orient it to be sure it automatically adjusts - with the threaded portion of the star wheel forward or aft? I'm sure the passenger side is threaded so that it mirror's the driver's side, but I really don't want to have both brakes dissassembled at the same time. Perhaps another way to ask my question is: when looking towards the front of the car, in what direction should the star wheel on the driver's side spin to expand the parking brake - clockwise or counterclockwise?

[PittsburghCeli]

Just think from the outside access hole you will want to be twisting it up, not down, but who uses that stinking hole? I always adjust them until the drum barely fits on then maybe get a click or two from that dam hole if I am lucky. You always want to be turning the star wheel up from the access hole and make sure it clicks nicely on the stop arm so that it doesn't loosen up. Also check the online manual's brake section where there is a good diagram of each side. Plus it should only fit one way, the only way it really won't is if you had both side apart and had a right for a left.
http://www.onlinefreeebooks.net/auto...anual-pdf.html

Star wheel to the right of the spring (aft) on drivers side.

Also they don't automatically adjust really. Adjust until drum barely fits on, then maybe get a click out of the oval rubber stoppered access hole. Otherwise your parking brake won't work and the lever will grab at the top. The brake lever's height is adjusted by the star wheel.

[5OBassman]

Thanks, I got it.