self-adjusting drum brakes on 2003 Matrix?

So the question is: how do you adjust the brake shoes on the rear drum
brakes of the 2003 Matrix? I've heard (and read) everythineg from
driving in reverse, applying the parking break to "you just have to set
them manually".

Anybody know the real scoop? I don't have a Chilton or Haynes manual for
this car, and I haven't Googled it yet, so any advice appreciated.

"Sean Elkins" <sean_elkins RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:sean_elkins-57BC7C.13474825112007@iglou.read.readnews.com...
> So the question is: how do you adjust the brake shoes on the rear drum
> brakes of the 2003 Matrix? I've heard (and read) everythineg from
> driving in reverse, applying the parking break to "you just have to set
> them manually".
>
> Anybody know the real scoop? I don't have a Chilton or Haynes manual for
> this car, and I haven't Googled it yet, so any advice appreciated.

Toyota uses 2 types of auto adjusters; one works by applying the parking
brake and the other works by braking in reverse. I believe that your car is
adjusted by braking in reverse. If the brakes are pretty far out of
adjustment, then it is best to set them manually. As the parking brake
cable gets stretched, it may be necessary to adjust the slack out of the
cable.

Adjusting the parking brakes is not too difficult. Put the transmission in
park (or reverse with a manual transmission), block the front wheels, jack
up the rear of the car, and set the car on a set of sturdy jackstands. On
the inboard side of the backing plate, look for a oval shaped rubber plug
and remove the plug. Spin the wheel and tire - with moderate effort, it
should spin once and stop. If the wheel spins freely, then it needs
adjustment. Stick a brake adjusting tool or flat bladed screwdriver into
the oval opening and engage the star wheel (looks like a gear) and click the
wheel in the up or down position, taking care to count the clicks. When you
spin the wheel after a few clicks, it should start to drag to the point
where it spins once. If there is no difference, then turn the adjuster in
the opposite direction the same number of clicks so that you are back to
where you started from, and then start counting the clicks again. Repeat on
the opposite side so that both wheels spin the same number or times. Once
the brakes are properly adjusted, the auto adjusters should be able to keep
up.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)