Drum Brake Shoes - Rear

Replace worn rear drum brake shoes, springs, and hardware on the 2018-2024 Toyota Camry 2.5L I4 to restore proper braking performance.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear brake shoe set (left and right) × 1 — 04495-06080 or equivalent
• Brake hardware spring kit × 1 — Included with most shoe sets
• Brake adjusting screw assembly kit × 1 — Use OEM specification if corroded
• High-temperature brake lubricant × 1 — Use silicone-based brake grease
• Brake cleaner (non-chlorinated) × 2 — 1-2 cans

Fluids

• DOT 3 Brake Fluid — 0.5 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake. Place wheel chocks in front of front wheels.
2. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while wheels are still on ground.
3. Raise rear of vehicle with floor jack and support securely on jack stands rated for vehicle weight. Place stands under chassis reinforcement points behind rear wheels.
4. Remove both rear wheels completely and set aside.
5. RELEASE parking brake before attempting to remove drums.
6. Take clear reference photos of both drum brake assemblies before disassembly.
7. Prepare work area with adequate ventilation and have brake cleaner, drain pan, and disposal bags ready for contaminated materials.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove brake drum
   Remove the drum retaining screw (if equipped - Phillips head). Pull drum straight off hub. If drum is stuck due to rust or shoe contact, use a rubber mallet to tap around the drum's outer edge while pulling outward. If drum still won't release, locate the rubber plug on the backing plate, remove it, and use a brake adjusting tool to back off the automatic adjuster star wheel by pushing the adjuster lever away and rotating the star wheel upward. If severely rusted, use a drum puller to avoid damage.
2. 2

   Inspect and measure drum
   Clean the inside of the drum with brake cleaner and wipe with lint-free cloth (never blow with compressed air). Inspect drum friction surface for cracks, grooves, hard spots, or heat checking. Measure drum inside diameter with micrometer or drum gauge. Maximum drum diameter is typically stamped on drum face (usually 230mm/9.055 inches for Camry). If drum exceeds specification or has deep scoring, it must be replaced. Check for out-of-round condition. If drums require machining, both rear drums must be machined to the same diameter.
3. 3

   Remove brake shoe hold-down springs and pins
   Using brake hold-down spring tool, press down on the hold-down spring cup while rotating it 90 degrees to align the slot with the pin. Release tension and remove the cup, spring, and pin from each shoe (one on leading shoe, one on trailing shoe). Set hardware aside in organized manner. Note the orientation of each component for reassembly.
4. 4

   Disconnect and remove upper return spring
   Using brake spring removal tool, carefully unhook the upper return spring from both brake shoes. This spring is under significant tension - control the release to prevent injury. Note the spring's position and orientation relative to the shoes before removal.
   ⚠Upper return spring is under extreme tension. Use proper spring tool and maintain control during removal to prevent injury.
5. 5

   Remove parking brake cable and strut assembly
   Disconnect the parking brake cable from the parking brake lever on the trailing shoe by compressing the cable spring and unhooking the cable end. Remove the automatic adjuster strut and strut spring that connects the leading and trailing shoes. Note the orientation of the strut - the toothed end faces toward the star wheel adjuster.
6. 6

   Remove lower return spring and brake shoes
   Using brake spring tool, remove the lower return spring that connects both shoes at the bottom. Carefully separate and remove both brake shoes from the backing plate. Note the position of the automatic adjuster lever and spring on the trailing shoe before removal. Remove the adjuster lever, lever spring, and parking brake lever from the old shoe (you will transfer these to the new shoe).
7. 7

   Clean and inspect backing plate and wheel cylinder
   Spray backing plate thoroughly with brake cleaner and wipe clean with lint-free cloths. Use wire brush to remove rust from shoe contact pads on backing plate. Inspect wheel cylinder for fluid leaks - check the rubber dust boots for brake fluid or moisture. If leaking, wheel cylinder must be replaced before continuing. Check backing plate for cracks or damage. Inspect automatic adjuster star wheel assembly - clean threads with wire brush and verify smooth rotation. If corroded or binding, replace adjuster assembly.
   ⚠If wheel cylinder shows any signs of leakage, it must be replaced. Installing new shoes on a leaking cylinder will result in immediate contamination and brake failure.
8. 8

   Lubricate backing plate contact points
   Apply thin layer of high-temperature silicone brake grease to the six raised contact pads on the backing plate where shoe webs rest (three points per shoe). Do not over-apply - excess grease can contaminate friction surfaces. Apply small amount of grease to threads and socket end of adjuster star wheel assembly. Wipe off any excess. Do NOT apply lubricant to shoe friction surfaces or drum interior.
9. 9

   Transfer components and prepare new shoes
   Transfer the parking brake lever from old trailing shoe to new trailing shoe - remove C-clip or horseshoe clip, install lever on new shoe, and reinstall clip ensuring it is fully seated. Install the automatic adjuster lever and lever spring on the new trailing shoe in same orientation as original. Verify all components move freely. Compare new shoes to old shoes to confirm correct left/right application and proper leading/trailing shoe identification.
10. 10

    Install new brake shoes and lower return spring
    Position the leading shoe (front shoe without parking brake lever) on backing plate, engaging the shoe web in the wheel cylinder piston slot and resting on the anchor pin at bottom. Position trailing shoe (rear shoe with parking brake lever) similarly on opposite side. Install lower return spring between both shoes at the bottom using spring tool. Install hold-down pin, spring, and cup on each shoe, pressing and rotating cup 90 degrees to lock.
11. 11

    Install strut assembly and parking brake cable
    Install the automatic adjuster strut between the shoes with toothed end engaging the adjuster lever on trailing shoe and smooth end contacting leading shoe. Install strut spring to hold strut in position. Connect parking brake cable end to parking brake lever on trailing shoe, ensuring cable spring is properly compressed and cable is fully seated.
12. 12

    Install upper return spring
    Using brake spring tool, install the upper return spring between both shoes at the top. This spring is under significant tension - ensure it is properly seated in the shoe anchor holes. Verify all springs are correctly positioned and fully engaged in their anchor points.
    ⚠Ensure upper return spring is fully seated in both shoe anchor holes. Improperly seated springs can fail during operation.
13. 13

    Verify assembly and adjust shoes
    Compare completed assembly to reference photos and opposite side (still assembled). Verify all springs are installed, properly positioned, and under tension. Ensure parking brake lever moves freely. Pre-adjust shoes by rotating star wheel adjuster until shoes are slightly expanded - drum should slide over shoes with slight drag. Use adjuster tool through backing plate access hole or manually rotate star wheel before installing drum.
14. 14

    Install drum and perform initial adjustment
    Clean drum interior again with brake cleaner if necessary. Slide drum over shoes and onto hub - drum should fit with slight rotational drag. If drum won't fit, back off adjuster star wheel. Install drum retaining screw if equipped. Through the adjustment hole in backing plate, turn the star wheel until shoes contact drum and drum will not rotate, then back off star wheel 8 clicks (approximately) until drum rotates freely with very slight drag. Install rubber plug in adjustment hole.
15. 15

    Repeat procedure on opposite side
    Complete the identical procedure on the opposite rear wheel, using the first completed side as reference. Ensure both sides are adjusted equally for balanced braking. Both drums should have similar rotational drag when turned by hand.

Reassembly

1. Install both rear wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in star pattern.
2. Lower vehicle until wheels just contact ground (do not place full weight yet).
3. Torque wheel lug nuts to specification in star pattern.
4. Remove jack stands and lower vehicle completely to ground.
5. Before driving, pump brake pedal multiple times until firm pedal is achieved. Pedal may be soft initially as automatic adjusters take up clearance.
6. Check brake fluid level in master cylinder reservoir and top off with DOT 3 fluid if necessary. Do not overfill.

Verification

• Pump brake pedal 10-15 times - pedal should become firm and hold pressure. If pedal remains soft or sinks, bleeding may be required or there is a system leak.
• Start engine and apply brakes firmly - pedal should not sink and warning lights should not illuminate.
• Test parking brake operation - engage parking brake and verify it holds vehicle on slight incline. Parking brake lever should engage within 5-8 clicks.
• Perform low-speed brake test in safe area (parking lot) - vehicle should stop smoothly without pulling to either side.
• Perform 5-10 gentle stops from 25-30 mph to allow automatic adjusters to properly position shoes and achieve optimal clearance.
• After 50-100 miles of normal driving, check adjustment through backing plate access holes - verify proper shoe-to-drum clearance (slight drag when drum is rotated).
• If any unusual noises, vibrations, pulling, or brake warning lights occur, stop driving immediately and inspect the brake system. Have vehicle professionally inspected if issues persist.

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