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.
You could try it the easy way first. Just travel in reverse and pump the brake pedal numerous times. If you have that design, traveling in reverse, every time you pump the pedal the secondary shoe will move a lever that turns a star wheel to spread the shoes apart slightly, adjusting them against the drums.
If you have a parking brake design, just apply it several times and perhaps it will adjust them. It should move the star wheel.
If that doesn't seem to work, do what Ray said and manually adjust them by turning the star wheel, and then the self adjusters will work fine from then on.
Sometimes the adjustment is so far off that the self adjusters are turning the adjuster star wheel in too small of increments.
If the adjusters are rusted frozen. You will not be able to adjust the shoes either manually or automatically until you dis assemble, clean, and re lubricate the jack screw assembly. The threads must turn with no resistance such as rust. That is the most common reason for automatic adjusters not working.
OBTW, if you do it yourself, there is a left and a right adjuster assembly, be careful not to mistakenly swap them or you will adjust the shoes inward instead of outward. A common assembly error.
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