Stuck Parking Brake

[ganik17]

The parking brake on my 85 Celica ST is stuck on the left side. I drove it home from work two nights ago and it was fine, but yesterday morning it was stuck. I put the rear on jack stands and removed the tire. I found an adjustment for the brake shoes, it has drum brakes in the rear, but the adjustment appears to tighten the brakes not loosen them. I tried the adjustment on the free right side and to pull the shoes away from the drum I had to release a catch on the adjustment before I could turn it to release the pads. Since the brake is stuck on the left side I can't get the drum off to release the catch to back off the brake. Certainly there must be some way to release the brake without taking off the drum. What am I missing or doing wrong?

Thanks,
Robert

[Brian R.]

You should be able to adjust the brakes with the drum on by a little window in the bottom of the backing plate. You should be able to insert two tools in there, one to release the rotation stop and the other to back the star wheel off and relax the shoes. If your brake shoes are old, don't be surprised if there is a good-sized ridge worn into the drum and you have to back them off more than you expect to get the drum off.

Once you get the drum off, free up your parking brake mechanism or shoes (wherever the problem is), and then adjust the brakes back to where they should be. Be careful the first time you drive it and test the brakes and parking brake before you get out of your driveway.

[ganik17]

Ahh. Two tools in the window. I hadn't thought about that. Getting in there will be tricky, but I will be working in the daylight this evening. Last night I was working by headlamp and couldn't see in there at all.

Any suggestions on how to keep the shoes from sticking again? It is pretty dirty inside the drum. Should I wipe it down and spray some WD40 or some other lubricant on the whole assembly? Not on the shoes, but the other moving parts?

Thanks.

[Brian R.]

Put high-temperature brake grease on all the points that rub - pivot points for the hand brake and brake shoes, etc. Don't get anything on the brake linings. Don't even touch the linings with dirty hands.

[ganik17]

I couldn't get the star wheel to turn to I had it towed to a mechanic. Turns out it was a blown axel seal that had leaked old on the pads causing them to swell. He fixed the seal and the brakes which needed new shoes anyway. All is working properly now.

[Brian R.]

That is a little strange...