On older Tacomas the e-brake adjustment is located just inside the frame under the drivers side door area. Not sure about the new ones.

 

i dont like the ebrake. i wish they had a foot pedal for the m/t or even a hand e-brake. :disappoin

 

I'd be interested in this too.

I've adjusted my rear brakes at the little starwheel thing a couple of times now. PIA !

Aren't these self adjusting ?

 

i dont like the ebrake. i wish they had a foot pedal for the m/t or even a hand e-brake. :disappoin

So what does the m/t have?

 

I've noticed my truck tends to rock a little and even start to roll if I'm on a hill and the ebrake's not ALL the way out (6spd, handle ebrake). It's a little unnerving when wheeling and I don't want to shut the engine off and leave it in gear + use the ebrake. I've never driven with the ebrake on so it shouldn't be worn out I would think. Truck stops fine so the pads/shoes should be good too.

I'd like to tighten it some myself as well.

 

I'm thinking he might be referring to the e-brake lever found more in cars. I dunno. We (m/t drivers) have a hand brake. If we had the foot one, we'd have four pedels down below, which to me would be too crowded.

 

06blacktaco: The manual tranny Tacoma's have the handle e-brake that pulls out from the lower right of the dash on the drivers side (lower right from the steering wheel). I'm guessing the other guy was referring to a car's hand brake, which is a lever you pull up from the center console/column. I personally have no qualms with the e-brake behind where it is on the manual Tacomas. I haven't noticed any slip or loosening either, although I've only had my Taco for about 8 months now.

 

Florida is incredibly flat and requires no use of my e-brake what so ever...In fact...I don't know if I would even trust it on a hill because I think the only time I used it was on a algae covered boat ramp...

 

ForTech, Here is the answer to your question. This covers both Parking Brake types (foot lever and hand lever). All of this is in the Service Manual that is posted in this forum.

Parking Brake ADJUSTMENT​

1. REMOVE REAR WHEEL
2. ADJUST REAR DRUM BRAKE SHOE CLEARANCE
(See page​

​

BR-74)
3. INSTALL REAR WHEEL
Torque: 113 N*m (1,152 kgf*cm, 83 ft.*lbf)
4. INSPECT PARKING BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL (for
Automatic Transmission)​

(a) Slowly depress the parking brake pedal to the fully
applied position, and count the number of clicks.​

Parking brake pedal travel at 300 N (31 kgf, 67
lbf):
7 to 10 clicks
5. INSPECT PARKING BRAKE LEVER TRAVEL (for
Manual Transmission)​

(a) Slowly pull the parking brake lever to the fully
applied position, and count the number of clicks.​

Parking brake lever travel at 200 N (20 kgf, 45
lbf):
7 to 10 clicks
6. REMOVE CONSOLE UPPER REAR PANEL SUBASSEMBLY
(for Automatic Transmission on
Separate Seat Type) (See page​

​

IP-9)
7. REMOVE CONSOLE UPPER REAR PANEL SUBASSEMBLY
(for Manual Transmission on Separate
Seat Type) (See page IP-9)
8. REMOVE CONSOLE BOX ASSEMBLY REAR (for
Separate Seat Type) (See page IP-10)
9. REMOVE PARKING BRAKE CABLE JOINT
PROTECTOR (for Bench Seat Type)​

(a) Slide the seat to the rearmost position.
(b) Pull up the floor carpet around the cable joint
protector, along its seams.
(c) Remove the 3 bolts and parking brake cable joint
protector.​

10. ADJUST PARKING BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL (for
Automatic Transmission)​

(a) Confirm that the parking brake pedal is released.

(b) Loosen the lock nut A and turn the adjusting nut B
until the parking brake pedal travel is corrected to
the specified value.
(c) Tighten the lock nut.​

Torque: 13 N*m (127 kgf*cm, 9 ft.*lbf)​

(d) Check whether the parking brake drags or not.
(e) When operating the parking brake pedal, check that
the parking brake pedal indicator light comes on.​

11. ADJUST PARKING BRAKE LEVER TRAVEL (for
Manual Transmission)​

(a) Confirm that the parking brake lever is released.
(b) Loosen the lock nut A and turn the adjusting nut B
until the parking brake lever travel is corrected to
the specified value.
(c) Tighten the lock nut.​

Torque: 13 N*m (127 kgf*cm, 9 ft.*lbf)​

(d) Check whether the parking brake drags or not.
(e) When operating the parking brake lever, check that​

the parking brake lever indicator light comes on.

12. INSTALL PARKING BRAKE CABLE JOINT
PROTECTOR (for Bench Seat Type)​

(a) Install the 3 bolts and parking brake cable joint
protector.​

Torque: 13 N*m (127 kgf*cm, 9 ft.*lbf)​

(b) Return the floor carpet to its original position.
(c) Return the seat to its original position.​

13. INSTALL CONSOLE BOX ASSEMBLY REAR (for
Separate Seat Type) (See page​

​

IP-24)
14. INSTALL CONSOLE UPPER REAR PANEL SUBASSEMBLY
(for Automatic Transmission on
Separate Seat Type) (See page IP-25)
15. INSTALL CONSOLE UPPER REAR PANEL SUBASSEMBLY
(for Manual Transmission on Separate​

Seat Type) (See page IP-25)

 

1999 Tacoma E brake

At about 50K on my 99 Tacaoma the Ebrake started to act up. And actually lock up...... the auto adjuster seems pretty Mickey Mouse. The Adjustment lever on the frame under the driver door is the area of concern......... the linkage tends of rust and functional poorly and eventually lock up. The linkage at the Bellcrank Lever also tends to rust and cease up.....I plan a complete rebuild, to get it functional and ,,,,,,,,,, more importantly to keep the rear tires from locking when at rest for any lenght of time.
c

 

I've found the problem to why my E Brake wasn't working...

Both rear side axle seals were leaking, drums and shoes were full of gear oil. Everything has been replaced under warranty.

 

That'll do it right there. Have you been scuba diving your truck in mud? Just curious what caused the seals to fail. Make sure you check your vent line for blockage. If it can't breath it will build pressure and puke oil out the seals, and I'm sure the techs didn't check it. Better yet do the diff breather extension mod while you're at it.

 

I don't know what caused them to fail. I have been driving through some mud, but nothing of any depth that should affect the seals. I changed my diff oil around the same time I noticed the E brake wasn't holding - I ensured the breather was clear at that time. I usually give the breather a check every third week or so, as I grease my truck at half the intervals that the manual suggests. And in case anyone is doing the math, yes I rack up enough mileage to change my oil every 6-7 weeks.:sosad:

 

keep in mind guys that the ebrake is NOT meant to hold the vehicle by itself. it is meant to ASSIST in holding the vehicle. you should always have it in gear or in park.

 

I'd be interested in this too.

I've adjusted my rear brakes at the little starwheel thing a couple of times now. PIA !

Aren't these self adjusting ?

Don't know if they're self adjusting but yeah, I've gone the starwheel route on my other cars. Haven't tried it on my Tacoma yet.

There should be a rubber plug accesible from the back of the drum (backing plate) that gives you access to the star wheel - don't have to remove the wheel. I usually lift the rear end and turn the star wheel while spinning the wheel/drum until I feel a little resistance. Repeat on other side.