How to Remove the Rear Brakes From a 1998 Toyota Camry

The 1998 Toyota Camry came equipped with standard rear drum brakes or rear disc brakes that featured a "drum in hat" style parking brake system. This type of parking brake system uses a set of small drum brake shoes that fit inside the hat area of the brake rotor to provide parking brake functions. Replacement of the rear brake pads for the service brakes is similar to most disc brake systems. Remember to inspect the rear parking brake shoes for wear during routine brake repair projects.

Instructions

Rear Disc Brakes

1

Secure the vehicle by placing the transmission in park and placing wheel chocks against the front tires. Loosen the 21 mm lug nuts on the rear wheels about 1/2 turn using a lug wrench. Lift the driver's side of the Camry using a floor jack positioned under the reinforced lifting point found a few inches in front of the wheel opening along the bottom of the car. Place a jack stand under the rear subframe and lower the Camry onto the stand. Repeat the procedure for the passenger's side of the Camry.

2

Remove both rear wheels. Remove the lower caliper-mounting bolt using a 14 mm wrench or socket and ratchet. Pivot the caliper up and slide it off the upper caliper slide pin. Hang the caliper from the rear coil spring using stiff wire.

3

Remove the two caliper mounting bracket bolts that attach the caliper-mounting bracket to the axle carrier using a 14 mm socket and ratchet. Lay the bracket aside.

4

Attempt to slide the brake rotor off the parking brake shoe assembly and hub. If the rotor does not slide off easily, loosen the parking brake shoes by rotating the adjuster located behind the rotor. Remove the rubber plug in the front of the rotor. Rotate the rotor until the opening is at the six-o'clock position. Insert the brake-adjusting spoon into the opening and rotate the adjuster downward until you can remove the rotor.

5

Remove the parking brake shoes using a brake spring tool to push and rotate the spring locks on top of the retaining springs. Install a new brake rotor, if the friction surface for the parking brake shoes has damage. This surface is not machinable and will cause parking brake failure if damaged. Install new parking brake shoes, brake pads and brake rotors in the reverse order of removal.

Rear Drum Brakes

6

Remove the rear wheels as outlined in the previous section. Slide the brake drum off the brake shoes and hub assembly. Slide a drain pan under the brake assembly. Clean the brake shoes with brake parts cleaner to prevent breathing brake dust during the repair.

7

Grasp the end of the return spring located below the rear wheel cylinder with a pair of locking pliers. Pull the spring with the pliers to unhook it from the front brakes shoe. Push in on the brake shoe hold down spring with the brake spring tool and rotate the spring to unlock it from the anchor pin.

8

Remove the rear shoe hold down spring. Unclip the return spring and parking-brake lever spring from the brake shoe and lay the springs along with the self-adjuster aside. Use a large screwdriver to pry off the retaining clip that attaches the adjuster and lever to the back of the rear brake shoe. Pry the spring on the end of the parking brake cable back using a pair of pliers and slip the cable out of the parking brake lever.

9

Install the parking brake lever and adjuster lever onto the new rear shoe. Reinstall the cable onto the parking brake lever. Reinstall the remainder of the brake system in the reverse order of removal.