1996 4Runner Rear Handbrake Issue – Left Rear Over adjusting and Locking Up

Hey all,

I'm having a persistent and frustrating issue with the handbrake on my 1996 4Runner (ABS model). Hoping someone here can help me troubleshoot or at least point me in the right direction.

The main problem is with the left rear wheel. Every time I use the handbrake, that side over-adjusts and eventually locks up the wheel after a few uses. I’ve replaced basically every component I can think of on both sides—shoes, springs, hardware, cables, and drums. Still, the problem keeps coming back.

A few more details:

• The handbrake is extremely weak overall—it won’t hold the vehicle on even a moderate hill.
  
  
• Despite the weakness, the left rear wheel is constantly dragging, and still somehow it doesn't help hold the car.
  
  
• I'm certain it's not hydraulic drag—this is purely mechanical, tied to the parking brake system.
  
  
• I’ve verified the bellcrank spacing is set to factory spec, so that’s been ruled out.
  
  
• The adjuster seems to keep ratcheting itself tighter on that side, but I don’t understand why it’s only affecting the left.
  
  
• The right side is acting totally normal.
  

Has anyone run into this before? Could this be a cable routing issue, a problem with the adjuster mechanism itself, or even something like wear on the backing plate or pivot points causing uneven movement?

I’m out of ideas and tired of fighting a brake that both drags and doesn’t work. Any insight would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

 

How rusty is the vehicle?

 

My truck isn't very rusty at all. All of the brake components are new so no rust there. The backing plate has a little bit of surface rust but nothing I'd consider bad.

Even though I don't think it could be a rust problem, I'm completely open to ideas because I'm completely at a loss here.

 

If the ratcheting adjuster thing is the same on both sides swap it to the other side and see if it follows.

Are the drums the same inner diameter? If one side is larger than the other maybe that's causing one side to be too tight and while the other side has normal engagement.

You said you replaced the ratcheting thing did you go oem?

 

Thanks for the reply.

The ratcheting adjusters are actually different on each side—one is reverse threaded, otherwise it would loosen instead of tighten when used on the opposite side.

The drums are brand new, but I went ahead and had the left one (the problematic side) turned at a shop to ensure it’s perfectly round.

Unfortunately, I’m not using OEM parts. I live in Costa Rica, and parts—especially OEM—are crazy expensive. Even the cheapest aftermarket drums cost around $250 USD here. I really don’t want to keep shotgunning parts at this thing, but honestly, I’m at the point where I’d pay the OEM price if it meant a solid fix and a clear diagnosis.

That said, I’m not sure how to look up Toyota part numbers for this truck. Can anyone point me to a good database or help me find the correct part number for the left rear brake adjuster?

 

The brake drum is not something I'd go OEM with either.

Partsouq has the most comprehensive diagrams I've seen, cross reference parts you get from there with an online dealership like camelback Toyota before buying (Partsouq is a good place to buy parts). Toyota dealers use to have unique websites and the better ones were miles ahead of the template they've all gone to using. I don't know how Toyota has less of its own diagrams than other websites.