2008 hilux sr5 handbrake issue

[cookie89]

hi all, just wondering if anyone knows how to adjust the handbrake or would have an ideas of why the handbrake loosened up after playing in some mud, (handbrake was not left on) also since handbrake playing up the brakes have gone sloppy (need to pump to work effectively) brake fluid level if fine and brakes have not been played with to need bleeding. thanks in advance. :)

[Kalgarkis]

Hi Cookie, Yes me too!! Exactly same thing happened to me over Christmas. Did some pretty serious mud driving, now I've got soggy brakes and a loose handbrake! So glad you asked the question. Maybe it's a common thing?? All I can think is somehow water has got into the brake fluid. Don't ask me how but nothing else makes sense. I was going to bleed my system yesterday but didn't get a chance, but now I'm away for a week. Maybe try that and see what happens. It's only going to cost you a $10 bottle of brake fluid. Come on peeps, help us out :) Kal

[CONROD]

Jack up the rear. Remove wheels then remove the rear brake drums. Visually Check linings, wheel cylinders for sh*t. Then give it all a good hose out ( taking care not to damage/ dislodge seals on the wheel cyl ).

Hand brake is easily adjusted by turning knurled nut on the wheel cylinder itself. Look at it carefully and you will see which direction you need to rotate it. Depending on how much adjustment is needed it might only require half a dozen clicks .

This will also give you a better pedal for your foot brake also.

You didn't happen to snag the hand brake cable on anything by chance ?

Cheers mate

[Manxman]

cable is adjusted by tightening nut on end of cable at centre of car, passenger side. normal adjustment should brke drgging t 3 clicks of lever. NB H/Brake is overridden by motor torque in most gears. Cable adjustment needs occasional clean before adjustment.. Make note for reference: brake/clutch cylinders normally last 14 years. Plan for replacement by then. when working on brakes: Beware asbestos dust! It's deadly, altho' 08, so should be metal shoes.

Edited January 16, 2015 by Manxman

[cookie89]

didn't snag the cable on anything that i know of, have tried the adjustment on the car its self and had no luck, had it as tight as it would let me with no luck. thanks for the advice, will have a play tomorrow with the brakes. and post if success or not. :)

Edited January 17, 2015 by cookie89

[Lozz]

G'day Cookie,

I have an 09 TRD, pretty much the same as yours.

The set up in all hilux's are pretty well the same, there are gear levers that catch on a spiral (which is on a thread) and turns the spiral knob (if it needs to) every time you pull on the handbrake lever, you will see how this works inside the rear drum assembly.

So all rear shoes are self adjusted. However mud and other debre can obstruct and prevent this from happening, particularly in the thread itself, this can make it jam or seize, so a really good suggestion is to remove your rear drums and clean everything out.

Also you shouldn't have to worry about aspestous as the aspestous compound was eliminated in the manufacture of Autralian brake shoes about 15 - 20 years ago (it is now illegal to manufacture brake shoes / pads containing aspestous in Ausralia, that's why Great Wall's were recalled a couple of years ago).

The adjustment for the handbrake cable is on the handbrake lever itself in the cab, 2 x 10mm nuts on a thread about 50mm long.

To gain access to the adjuster, directly under the lever you will find a plastic cover, remove this (just pull it up and out) and you will find the adjusting thread. And yes the correct adjustment is approx 3 - 4 clicks. Hope this helps

Cheers Loz

[cookie89]

thanks all. cleaned out the drum, was just brake dust in them and adjusted the handbrake. works fine now.

[trentmeyer23]

Mud and solidified bulldust will cause the brakes to either not work or stick on. You need to wash out your drums as soon as possible after going through mud to prevent this happening and potentially causing more damage.

[Lozz]

G'day Cookie,

Good on ya mate!! Yeh you soon figure it out when you have a look inside.

It's just if there was an easier way, like not having to go to the effort to strip it down, but I guess that's Murphy's law hey!

Have a good one!