The braking system is an important safety feature on a vehicle that requires constant monitoring and proper maintenance. A seldom used but important component of the braking system is the emergency brake. Failure problems with the emergency brake are usually discovered during inspections by a mechanic or by government certification authorities. On the Lexus RX 330, such problems can be fixed by adjusting the emergency brake.
Put your Lexus in neutral, disengage the emergency brake, and place chock blocks around the front tires.
Lift both rear wheels of the vehicle off the ground, loosen the lug nuts and remove the wheels. Starting with the left rear of the vehicle, locate one of the 8 millimeter access holes in the rear brake disc drum and turn the drum so that the access hole is at the 6 o'clock position. Using a flashlight, locate the emergency brake adjustment gear through the disc drum. It is immediately behind the disc drum and is star-shaped. Insert a flathead screwdriver into the brake adjustment gear opening and turn clockwise until the disc drum resists spinning. Reinstall the wheel.
Proceed to the right side of the vehicle and repeat the same procedure for other wheel.
Test the emergency brake by parking your vehicle on a slope and engaging the emergency brake.
