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replacing rear drum brake calipers and shoes

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Anthony Park, Dec 17, 2018.

  1. Anthony Park

    Anthony Park Junior Member

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    What video should I watch? I was looking for a prius specific one but perhaps that isn't necessary.

    Here's one I thought was informative and well done, even for a non-prius vid.


    I also tried in vain to find a similar thread. Apologies since I know this has likely been answered and I'm justg an idiot.

    Cheers,

    Anthony Park
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I hate doing drum brakes, say a full shoe replacement. It's like taking apart a watch, and the springs are tough and tricky. With the right tools it goes easy, I've been told... Maybe in another life I'd get the hang of it. I did it once, on a Honda, with the wrong tools: swore I'd just let the pros do it next time.

    The most I'll do is take the drum off, remove the clips that tension the shoes, holding them against the backing plate, lube the contact points with backing plate (typically 3 per shoe), carefully, you don't want to lube the shoes. Then put everything back together, done.

    For getting the drum off, there's usual a pair of threaded holes: if the drum is refusing to come off, you screw bolts into the holes, back and forth, until the drum is pushed off the shoes. Bolt size is M8x1.25.

    This might help too, 2nd gen Repair Manual excerpt:
     

    Attached Files:

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  3. Hamptgx

    Hamptgx Member

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    It's not that bad just takes practice
     
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    and the right tools
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Watching YouTubes would help, nowadays, help you understand the tools and techniques. It was the dark ages when I (once) changed drum brake shoes. Ugh.
     
  6. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    DANGER WILL ROBINSON. I did not look at the video
    but the Prius is an odd beast. It has battery powered brakes. Make sure you disconnect the 12volt battery and wait the specified time for the brake capacitors to discharge. Otherwise you will have problems.
     
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yup, that's always step one. And before reconnecting the battery: pressure up the system with multiple brake pedal pushes, on the off-chance the system could detect excess brake pedal travel.

    Maybe goes without saying, but don't use a memory saver device.
     
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  8. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    All drum brakes are similar in design and activation. Differences between manufactures seems to be around where springs are located.

    Disengaging the return spring is a PITA! I can't see how mechanics can prevent the shoe from moving, causing the piston to move/dislodge, introducing air. When you work on it, you will see what I mean. The return spring is STRONG!!!!! A lot of force is required to disengage it.

    Right tools is also having Techstream to bleed the system; you have determined you need to replace the rear drum cylinder (not caliper). You should be replacing the brake hardware (hold down springs, return spring, tensioner spring) too.

    You should have access to a manual.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    One thing, drum brake shoes last a long time. I resigned myself to just pulling the drum off once in a blue moon (official service interval :whistle:), lubing the contact points between shoe and backing plate, never needed to go further.
     
  10. Hamptgx

    Hamptgx Member

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    .? Only tools needed are flat blade screwdriver or the angled flat blade brake tool and a good set of needle nose pliers.
     
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That's one of these?

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Hamptgx

    Hamptgx Member

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    The one on the left, they make slightly different ones. I recognize these, most you can get by without if you have a stocked toolbox, if not then u definitely need this.
     
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  13. Rocinante1984

    Rocinante1984 Junior Member

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    The center springs are pretty easy to do with needle nose pliers. My shoes are like 3mm at 195k miles but I'm putting some grease on the contact points. Whatever.
     
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  14. 2004priusgal

    2004priusgal Junior Member

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    Any idea how to correct problems if we did not remove 12v when changing cylinders and all, for rear brakes?
    did i ruin accumulator?
    i seems to run louder and longer...

    Also would a heavier non OEM (steel) cylinder make a difference ?
    otherwise brakes are good... better than she was... 04, 184k
    thx
     
  15. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    It would probably help to have more of the story.

    You did some rear brake work, including changing cylinders?

    What original complaint(s) led you to do that?

    Did anything happen while you were doing the job to make you think "nuts, should have disconnected the 12V"?

    If so, what did you do about it?

    Since the job was completed, what current complaint(s) make you think something is amiss?
     
  16. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    If you replaced the rear brake wheel cylinders, what procedure did you use to bleed them afterwards?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.