Odyssey rear brake system

I replaced the front pads on my 2002 Odyssey after driving 40000 km mostly city driving (70%). One of the 4 pads had 2/16 in material left : time to change. New OEM pads from Honda dealer had almost 7/16 in of material.

I also checked one rear wheel. Discovered that the rear rotor is in fact a rotor/drum combination (Large heavy part, must be very expensive to replace if required. Would be wise not to over extend the life of the rear pads to avoid abusing this rotor.)

Rotor brake pads act for normal braking, while the parking brake cable runs inside the drum , where I assume it actuates some kind of brake shoes againts the drum, like any regular drum/shoe rear brake system. ( I have not removed the rotor/drum part to see for myself inside the drum).

The rear pads had 3/16 in material left. What is the minimum lining thickness recommended for rear wheels on this vehicule? I know in general rear wheels allow smaller thickness than front wheels. I also use the following rule of thumb: if all 4 wheels brakes are in good operating condition, rear pads/shoes should last twice as long as the front ones.

How does the parking cable brake system auto-adjust, if it has any auto-adjusting system at all?

I once owned a car with disks on the rear but small drums for the handbrake (U.K Vauxhall Cavalier), the manual advised periodically engaging the handbrake at low speed to clean and adjust the drums.

I don't know about your Odyssey, but on other vehicles a cable adjustment is enough, and can be done at the hand brake (under the cover).

You are right about the rear cable brake adjustment. They should not wear (because no friction involved when wheels are not turning) , therefore no dynamic or self adjustment mechanism required.