Toyota E-brake adjust? Menlove SUCKS...

[DAA]

Short version: I think I just need to adjust the parking brake shoes on my LX470 to pass inspection. But I won't have time to pull the wheels for a couple of days. Is there any self-adjustment to them at all? Crank the handle a bunch of times? While backing up maybe? Or just going to have to pull the wheels and turn the adjusters with a screwdriver?


Long version...

So, my daily driver is a 2002 LX470. It failed inspection for a non-functioning E-brake. I pulled the drums and it was just a hot rusty mess in there. New shoes and hardware kits needed, drums need turned etc. Thought I might get a bit of adjustment out of the cable, just enough to pass inspection, but as soon as I touched the adjuster it crumbled into rusty pieces.

I didn't have any time or desire to go any further with it myself so I took it to the Toyota dealer closest to my house. Menlove in Bountiful. Mistake...

Menlove had the car for 8 days and it cost me $650 for installation of new parking brake shoes and hardware plus replacing the broken cable. Drums turned, not replaced, in that price. Okay, fine, I didn't have time to mess with it myself, the tags are already expired, I NEED to get this thing inspected and registered. I was annoyed that it took them over a week to install a brake cable, but, at this point I just want to pay the man and move on with my life.

Driving home I decide to test out my expensive bad ass new E-brake. Coasting along at 5MPH, I pull the handle all the way up - and - I'm still coasting 5MPH.

Eight freaking days and 650 freaking dollars later and I still have a 100% NON-FUNCTIONING E-brake.

Menlove can suck my sack. They'll never see me again or touch another vehicle of mine.

But I'm driving on expired tags. I really need to get the E-brake working so I can get it inspected. I'm guessing and hoping that the tech just didn't bother to adjust the shoes out after he put the drums back on and adjustment is all that's needed to get them working. But I won't have time to pull the wheels until tomorrow night at the earliest. Is there any hope for self-adjustment with these? I know a lot of old-school drum shoes would kind of self adjust if you braked hard while backing up. All I need is enough holding to pass inspection.

Prolly just have to wait until I have time to take the wheels off I'm guessing. Menlove sucks...

- DAA

 

[Kevin B.]

They ran a new cable? First thing I'd check is that they tensioned the cable properly. I'm assuming it's vaguely like the drums on my 4runner, you should be able to engage the brake and check for slack at the lever on the backside of the drum? Assuming that the cable itself is good, you can adjust the brake shoe inside by spinning the star adjuster through a slot in the brake backing plate, spin the top of the wheel away from you to push the shoes out. No need to pull the wheel. Again assuming that your fancy schamncy Lexus has normal drums and not some hifalutin' electronic geewhizery, that is.

 

[DAA]

They ran a new cable? First thing I'd check is that they tensioned the cable properly. I'm assuming it's vaguely like the drums on my 4runner, you should be able to engage the brake and check for slack at the lever on the backside of the drum?

Yes, new cable - the one on the rear axle. When I get time to mess with it I'll check for slack. It does have those bell cranks or whatever they are on the backside of the drums.

Assuming that the cable itself is good, you can adjust the brake shoe inside by spinning the star adjuster through a slot in the brake backing plate...

I wish. No slot in the backing plate on these. To adjust the stars you have to pull the wheel off, remove a plug from the front of the drum, then do the adjustment by braille through that hole. Unless I just missed seeing the slot through all that rust...

- DAA

 

[jeeper]

I imagine a call to menlove would get this problem solved.. They should be willing to stand behind it..

 

[DAA]

I imagine a call to menlove would get this problem solved.. They should be willing to stand behind it..

A call to Menlove just made me madder than hell. Those jackwads will NEVER see me again and NEVER touch a vehicle of mine again.

I called as soon as I got home. Guy starts by telling me new cables stretch just sitting and that must be the problem. When I told him I only look like the stupidest person on earth he changed his tune to" the tech must not have done the proper adjustments". Bingo! I think we're getting somewhere! So I'm thinking I can bring it back right then, get this done. Nope... I get the "... well, let me see when we can make an appointment to get you in...". I'm like "no, I need this done, soon". Reply "well, if you want to drop it off you can, but I'm not sure when we can get to it...".

Eff those guys. After some of the run around they gave me and the BS I had to put up with while they were taking a week to put on a brake cable, and then after all that nobody bothered to even check and see if it was working before sending it out the door, and now they tell me I'm back on the wait-wait-wait for it plan. Screw that! I'd rather pay someone else to undo their mess than have to endure being talked to like I'm an idiot and I'm the one wasting their time anymore. Nooooo thanks.

- DAA

 

[Kevin B.]

If you need a dealership, I've been pretty happy with Mark Miller downtown. My wife got that kind of runaround from their service writer after his tech screwed up a job - I went in and spoke to the service manager and threw a nice polite little tantrum and got it dealt with in 15 minutes, and walked out with a service credit to boot. People screw up, but the guys at Larry Miller seemed pretty responsive and willing to own it.

 

[jeeper]

A call to Menlove just made me madder than hell. Those jackwads will NEVER see me again and NEVER touch a vehicle of mine again.

I called as soon as I got home. Guy starts by telling me new cables stretch just sitting and that must be the problem. When I told him I only look like the stupidest person on earth he changed his tune to" the tech must not have done the proper adjustments". Bingo! I think we're getting somewhere! So I'm thinking I can bring it back right then, get this done. Nope... I get the "... well, let me see when we can make an appointment to get you in...". I'm like "no, I need this done, soon". Reply "well, if you want to drop it off you can, but I'm not sure when we can get to it...".

Eff those guys. After some of the run around they gave me and the BS I had to put up with while they were taking a week to put on a brake cable, and then after all that nobody bothered to even check and see if it was working before sending it out the door, and now they tell me I'm back on the wait-wait-wait for it plan. Screw that! I'd rather pay someone else to undo their mess than have to endure being talked to like I'm an idiot and I'm the one wasting their time anymore. Nooooo thanks.

- DAA

Well, then F those Guys!

I'd be happy to help, but it would still take up time to drive here, and then watch me fix it.. and I am sure you are just as capable as me..

 

[SLC97SR5]

There "should" be an oval adjustment slot for a brake spoon. You can rapidly pull the e brake handle up and down and the shoes will eventually deploy. Backing up and applying hasn't worked for me on my Toyota's, only the Ford.

There should also be a nut on the inside of the e brake handle boot that will tension the chassis cable.

I also hate Menlove/Bountiful Toyota, they are in the same category as the Davis County emission center for me.

 

[DAA]

I'll try the handle up and down at lunch and hope for the best. Otherwise, I'll just have to wait until I get an hour free in the evening to mess with it.

I'm not absolutely 100% positive that there is no adjuster slot in the backing plate, but I really don't think there is. I'll make sure when I get to messing with it and I hope I'm wrong as a slot would make the job significantly faster and easier than taking the wheels off.

- AAA

 

[Marsh99]

Found this on another forum:

I had the same problem after I got my brakes done at the 'stealer' last year, took it back in and they said it was fine - BS!

Did my own brakes with the help of a buddy on another forum a few weeks ago, and the only adjustment I found is a type of turn-buckle on the aircraft-cable actuation rigging in front of the spare tire.

As you're on your back under the truck, un-tighten the nut on the Right side up the threaded shaft, and tighten the turn-buckle from the left to the right. Lock it in place by re-tightening the nut on the Right side.

I adjusted this by about 10 180degree turns, and I acheived an effective hand-brake actuation height of approx. 4-5 clicks below where it had been.

I didn't care to tighten the cable any further than that, as it seemed to be turning the steel cable also, though the brake's effectiveness has increased significantly.

YMMV,

-LX Pilot

Read more: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/lx4...x470-hand-brake-adjustment.html#ixzz370QwV9Da

 

[sixstringsteve]

man, that sucks.

 

[chans]

Take the receipt for the repair to the place you got it inspected and check if they will pass it. Usually after a repair they just need proof the repair was done.
For all the Toyotas I had and worked on they all had a rubber plug on the back wheel you can pull out and adjust with a flat screw driver. The FSM states you need to pull the drum and measure the inside of the drum and adjust the pads until they are a few thousandths less but I have a hard time getting the drum back on. The cables are in sections so unless they replaced the section that splits from the main cable the adjustment in front of the gas tank skid should be fine.

 

[DAA]

Found this on another forum:
...the only adjustment I found is a type of turn-buckle on the aircraft-cable actuation rigging in front of the spare tire.

I think that is the cable adjuster that broke when I put a wrench on it and tried to turn it. I'm the one who broke it. But, it took almost no effort - much less torque than I'd have expected to turn the nut and the whole thing just twisted in half. This 100 series is a total rust bucket though.

Running the E-brake handle up and down a bunch of times actually made a big difference. The E-brake does slow the rig down a bit now, you can feel some braking action. I don't think it's quite good enough to pass inspection, but a LOT better than the 0% it was functioning before. After I get all the other stuff I have to get done tonight, I might stay up late and mess with it. Otherwise it will be tomorrow night before I can really dig in and get this thing put to bed once and for all. Pretty sure it's just a matter of adjustments at this point though.

- DAA

 

[Tonkaman]

If you paid credit card you can document the problems along with correspondence and dispute charges

 

[DAA]

Done. Just needed to adjust the parking brake shoes. The Old Black Pig should sail through inspection tomorrow now.

I confirmed, definitely not any slots in the backing plates for adjusting the shoes. The wheels have to come off and the adjustment done through a hole in the front of the drum. Maybe that is a 100 Series feature. Or just Lexus silly. Dunno...

- DAA

 

[cruiseroutfit]

That is the adjustment procedure, pull the wheel and adjust in the hole on the disc.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Congrats, I'm glad you got it fixed in time.

 

[lhracing]

If you need something else done on it down the road take it to LHM Lexus in Salt Lake and ask for Shane. It will be done correctly, take my word on it.

(He is ASE and Lexus "MASTER" certified and has his Lexus "Advanced Level Specialist in Engine Performance" cert. He also does Toyota work on the side)

 

[DAA]

I'll do that. It's past due for the timing/water pump treatment. I'm doing that job for a friend on his Tacoma sometime in the next couple of weeks, don't feel like having to do two of them - going to take the Black Pig in and pay someone else to do it.

- DAA

 

[johngottfredson]

I would definitely recommend Ralph up at divinity auto in SL. They are Lexus and Toyota only, and big cruiser gurus. Kurt recommended them, I've been way happy, I've recommended them to multiple guys with cruisers who have all been very impressed.

But the main point here is SCREW MENLOVE. They lied and cheated their way out of many thousands of my dollars, and that's after they had to give me back $4k under theat of a lawsuit. NEVER use those guys.