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2015 RAV4 E brake adjustment?

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cdn2

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hello....new to this forum and owner of a 2015 RAV4 XLE automatic, with 81000kms. I have goen throught several pages of this form and cannot see anything on how to adjust an E/handbrake as mine is often used and now I do not have any E/hand brake left but my rear pads are less than half worn...does anybody have a video or shop manual description on how to adjust the E brake?
Any help would be much appreciated.

cdn2
 
#2 ·
cdn2 said:
Hello....new to this forum and owner of a 2015 RAV4 XLE automatic, with 81000kms. I have goen throught several pages of this form and cannot see anything on how to adjust an E/handbrake as mine is often used and now I do not have any E/hand brake left but my rear pads are less than half worn...does anybody have a video or shop manual description on how to adjust the E brake?
Any help would be much appreciated.

cdn2
Click to expand...
Hey cdn2, welcome! There is a thread in the 4.3 Mechanical section which has a description for adjusting the cable at the handbrake lever, but this should only be in case of a stretched cable. There are a couple of things we should be clear on from your post though.

1. Your rear pads and rotors are not part of your ebrake system - the ebrake handle only operates the brake shoes inside the rear rotor/drum.

2. The primary adjustment for the brake shoes should be the star wheel spreader between the shoes (accessible through the port on the backing plate). Only once that has been set for each side should you consider the cable adjuster on the handle.

3. Which part are you referring to in saying “do not have any ... left?” I don’t quite understand.

We’re happy to help though!
... a fellow canuck.


2012 RAV4 Base FWD. Upgraded to large front brakes and 3rd row rear springs.

Link to SAE J2807 test description
www.caranddriver.com

That Dam Towing Test: New SAE Trailering Standards Explained

The new standards ask: Can you climb the Davis Dam grade?
www.caranddriver.com www.caranddriver.com
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Foryota said:
Hey cdn2, welcome! There is a thread in the 4.3 Mechanical section which has a description for adjusting the cable at the handbrake lever, but this should only be in case of a stretched cable. There are a couple of things we should be clear on from your post though.

1. Your rear pads and rotors are not part of your ebrake system - the ebrake handle only operates the brake shoes inside the rear rotor/drum.

2. The primary adjustment for the brake shoes should be the star wheel spreader between the shoes (accessible through the port on the backing plate). Only once that has been set for each side should you consider the cable adjuster on the handle.

3. Which part are you referring to in saying “do not have any ... left?” I don’t quite understand.

We’re happy to help though!
... a fellow canuck.


2012 RAV4 Base FWD. Upgraded to large front brakes and 3rd row rear springs.

Link to SAE J2807 test description
www.caranddriver.com

That Dam Towing Test: New SAE Trailering Standards Explained

The new standards ask: Can you climb the Davis Dam grade?
www.caranddriver.com www.caranddriver.com
Click to expand...
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Hi Foryota,

Thanks for the welcome and prompt reply.
When I wrote that I do not have any E brake left I meant that I can pull the E brake handle all the way up to full lock and nothing happens...the car will still slide back down hill....the E brake will not hold. I do use it a lot so the cable may be stretched as I had my tires rotated last year and the dealer said that the rear brake was still at 60% and since then I only put on about 8000 kms. I visually checked the other day and yes the pads appear to still have about well over a 1/4 inch of pad left.
I do not want to return the car to the dealer and pay an hours labour for something that adjusted automatically on older cars just by backing up so your help would be appreciated......and yes, I do all my own maintenance since the 1970 so I would be able to follow your instructions.

Best regards,

cdn2
 
#5 ·
cdn2 said:
I visually checked the other day and yes the pads appear to still have about well over a 1/4 inch of pad left.
Click to expand...
Foryota said:
1. Your rear pads and rotors are not part of your ebrake system - the ebrake handle only operates the brake shoes inside the rear rotor/drum.
Click to expand...
I am not sure you picked up on what Foryota was saying - on the inside of the rear brake rotor is actually a separate drum brake system that is used solely for the parking brake; the drum brake acts on the "hat" that is part of the disk brake rotor. Subaru also uses a similar system, which I disliked when I had Subarus, and is one of the few things I don't care for on the RAV4.

On the brake disk there is a plug that you remove that gives you access to the "star wheel" that Foryota refers to. You can turn this wheel through the disk with a screwdriver to expand the brake shoes to push against the drum to compensate for the wear to the the shoes, which is likely the root cause of your issue. Once the shoes are properly adjusted, then you can address any slack or stretching in the cable through its adjustment mechanism under the center console, if necessary.

165423
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Wow, thanks to kensei & tomato123 for their response and explanation, video and brake pics/diagrams....I got it! Rear disc pads are not E brake....additional internal shoes are E brake and adjustment is via star wheel.
The E brake adjustment on my 2015 RAV 4 is exactly like on my 1967 Canadian military jeep...so it will be a tip-toe- through-the-tulips to adjust.

many many thanks,

les
 
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