How to replace the parking brake shoes 2011-2017 Toyota Camry

To replace the parking brake shoes on your Camry it couldnt’ be easier. You will be asked to open the hood, remove the drum brakes, remove the brake shoes as well as carry out a few other steps. You can carry out this tutorial of 11 chapters in 90 minutes. Take your flat head screwdriver and your fluid container and let’s get started!

Duration

90 minutes

Number of steps

Difficulty out of 5

Average savings

$125

Parts You Will Need

Tools You Will Need

Step-by-Step Installation

Chapter 1:

Open the hood

Step 1/2

Turn off your vehicle’s ignition, set the parking brake, pull the hood release handle and open the hood.

Chapter 1:

Step 2/2

Open the brake fluid reservoir. Loosen the wheel lug nuts on the rear wheels.

Chapter 2:

Lift the vehicle

Step 1/2

Lift the rear of your vehicle. Place the vehicle on the jack stands.

Chapter 2:

Step 2/2

Don’t forget to put the wheels under the vehicle!

Chapter 3:

Remove the drum brakes

Step 1/4

It is now necessary to release the parking brake in order to clear the grip of the drum brake shoes on the disc.

Chapter 3:

Step 2/4

You will have to remove the shutter cover located on the disc with flathead screwdriver. You can now reach the adjustment mechanism of the brake shoes, and retract the brake shoes until the disc is free.

Chapter 3:

Step 3/4

Sometimes the disc may get stuck on the hub, if this happens, use a hammer to remove it. Finally, remove the disc.

Chapter 3:

Step 4/4

Clean the wheel hub with a wire brush.

Chapter 4:

Remove the brake shoes

Step 1/8

Unscrew the adjuster completely to make it easier to remove. Then move the two brake shoes aside, and remove the adjuster.

Chapter 4:

Step 2/8

Using a flat head screwdriver, remove the bottom spring which connects the two brake shoes.

Chapter 4:

Step 3/8

Then, using a pair of needle-nose pliers, rotate the hold-down pin a quarter turn to release the hold-down clip.

Chapter 4:

Step 4/8

Do the same on the other side.

Chapter 4:

Step 5/8

The hold-down pin is fragile and breaks frequently, but that’s nothing to worry about.Remove the hold-down pins.

Chapter 4:

Step 6/8

Using the flat head screwdriver, remove the forward upper spring. Then remove the front brake shoe.

Chapter 4:

Step 7/8

Still using the flat head screwdriver, remove the rear upper spring. Then move the rear brake shoe aside, and remove the shoe strut.

Chapter 4:

Step 8/8

Separate the parking brake shoe from the parking brake lever.

Chapter 5:

Clean the backing plate

Step 1/4

Clean the rear brake backing plate with a wire brush and brake cleaner.

Chapter 5:

Step 2/4

Take the opportunity to clean the parking brake lever.

Chapter 5:

Step 3/4

Grease the bearing surfaces of the parking brake shoes with copper grease.

Chapter 5:

Step 4/4

Also grease the parking brake lever nipple.

Chapter 6:

Install the rearward brake shoes

Step 1/5

Take the rear brake shoe. Install the rear brake shoe on the parking brake lever.

Chapter 6:

Step 2/5

Place the assembly in position on the backing plate, using the upper rear spring to hold the assembly in position.

Chapter 6:

Step 3/5

Take the rear spring. Place the rear spring on the ear using the flat head screwdriver.Place the shoe strut on the rear brake shoe by routing the rear spring inside.

Chapter 6:

Step 4/5

Take the first hold-down pins and hold-down clips.

Chapter 6:

Step 5/5

Put them back in place on the rear brake shoe. Then lock them.

Chapter 7:

Install the forward brake shoes

Step 1/5

Take the forward brake shoe, and place it in position in the shoe strut.

Chapter 7:

Step 2/5

Take the upper forward spring.

Chapter 7:

Step 3/5

Install the upper forward spring between the brake shoe and the ear to hold the assembly in position.

Chapter 7:

Step 4/5

Now you can put the second hold-down pins and hold-down clips back in place.

Chapter 7:

Step 5/5

Take the bottom spring.Using the flathead screwdriver, put the bottom spring in place.

Chapter 8:

Install the new adjuster

Step 1/5

Take the new adjuster. Pull the brake shoes apart, and put the adjuster in place.

Chapter 8:

Step 2/5

Then clean the contact surface between the brake shoes and the disc with brake cleaner and paper towels.

Chapter 8:

Step 3/5

Now you can put the rear brake system back in place.

Chapter 8:

Step 4/5

In case you adjusted the brake shoes to remove the disc, set the mechanism back until there is a slight friction between the brake shoes and the disc.