<a> wrote in message news:
[email protected]
>I have a 2000 RX300 with approx. 105K. Parking brake will no longer hold
>the car on a hill. I have performed four wheel brake pad replacement every
>40K or so. Do you know if I can adjust the parking brake myself?
>
> Eric
Whether or not you can adjust the parking brake yourself depends on whether
or not you can adjust drum brakes.
The parking brake is a drum brake located inside the raised part of the rear
rotors. First, check parking brake lining thickness. To do this, remove
the rear calipers and remove the rear rotors. The lining thickness on the
parking brake shoes should be between 1 and 2 millimeters thick. If they
are less than 1 mm thick, replace both shoes on both sides. As long as the
vehicle has not been driven with the parking brake on, the shoes should last
a long time. If you need to replace the parking brake shoes, the procedure
will be pretty much the same as on a late-model Camry with rear disc
brakes - here is a link to instructions:
http://oregonstate.edu/~tongt/camry/index.html
If lining thickness is acceptable, replace the rotor and caliper and
temporarily install the lug nuts to seat the rotor. Orient the black rubber
circular plug at the bottom 6 o'clock position and remove the plug and turn
the adjusting wheel behind the plug until the rotor locks, then back off 8
clicks. Next, check the parking brake pedal travel - it should be 3 to 6
clicks. If necessary, adjust the parking brake cable where it attaches to
the pedal. There is a lock nut that you need to back off so you can turn
the adjusting barrel.
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
