Everytime I go through a deep water crossing or muddy trail my drums brakes come waaay out of adjustment <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />. What's the reason for this? I can see mud packing between the shoe and drum that could mess things up, but in clear, freshwater crossings?

Also, setting the parking brake doesn't get them back in adjustment. I have to crawl under the truck and do it manually. The teeth on my adjusters do seem a little worn, maybe they're not engaging the adjustment lever?

It stinks because I completely lose my rear brakes every other trail ride (there's a lot of water and mud in FL).

Anyone else experience this problem?

If your adjuster's teeth are worn out, they could be slipping backwards... The only way to do this, though, is having pressure pushing them in.

Possibly the extra lube offered by the water allows the slip, combined with the contraction of the drums when contacting cold water causing it? Just a theory...

Even if it doesn't solve the problem, getting a new set of shoes in there along with a new hardware kit can't hurt. In fact, I'd bet the hardware kit fixes it... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

BTW: How's the little one doing? Haven't heard from you in a while...

go out and get a spring and self adjuster kit probally liek 20 bucks at a parts store. make sure you put anti sieze on the bolt for the self adjuster

The same problems the world over, dude! The self adjusters are probably FUBAR, I had a problem with adjuster springs rusting away to nothing. It made going to Toyota spare parts fun, no sample to take, reading the micro-fiche(no computer list for the 82 single cab) and saying, " I think that's the one, but order those,too, just in case...."
Disc brakes are high on my list... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Make sure the adjusters aren't swapped R-L....It happened to me once when I tore both brakes apart at the same time and then tossed all the parts into a pan to clean.

I reassembled them ok except I placed the right side adjuster screw assembly on the left and vice versa....Over a period of time they worked themself loose till finally a wheel cylinder blew out from too much travel.

The adjuster screw assemblies are thread backwards from each other, so it's important how the go back in.

I rebuilt the drum brakes with all new hardware, shoes and pistons. The hardware kit didn't include new adjustment lever springs. I think they're the originals and may be worn out. I'll make a trip to the dealer and pick up a new pair.

Also, when I rebuilt everything I followed all of the steps in the FSM and took my time. I know they're assembled correctly. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cyclops.gif" alt="" />

Thanks James! He's a little menace <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Seriously, Kevin is great, we're lucky parents and I can't wait until he's old enough to go wheeling! He's already 5-1/2 months old, crazy huh?

They mechanically come out of adjustment? That's a new one on me, and I don't see how it's possible. When I go through deep water I'll lose my drum brakes for a while due to all the water in there preventing the pads from doing their thing to the drum. But once it dries out, the brakes are back to normal.

If the brakes are coming mechanically out of adjustment your pedal action should be different. You don't mention that. Are you really sure they are mechanically coming out of adjustment?

Yes, there's a lot more brake pedal travel when this condition occurs.

Fascinating.

Per chance, are you applying your brakes hard after you exit the water when this happens? It might be possible that the screw threads of the star wheel adjuster assembly are partially stripped, or the female portion is cracked, and the unit gets compressed under hard braking. You wouldn't pick this up on a static test, but you should be able to duplicate it with hard braking while rolling, even on dry pavement.