I'm trying to figure out the self adjusters for my 71 F350. Originally this was a bread delivery truck but was later turned into a 1 ton dump truck. It's a kinda cool truck. Old like me.

I thought these fords were such that to tighten the adjustment you would turn the star-wheel up with your tool you put through the access hole in the backing plate. I will try to upload a picture. this is a picture of the front wheel taken when I first started this brake replacement. The rear adjusters look the same. You have to drain fluid from the pumpkin and pull the axles and bearings to pull the drums off the rear, so I'm hoping not to have to do this a lot. After I put in new shoes and cylinders it never seemed like the adjustment was getting tighter. I hit the brakes a lot in reverse and it never seems to tighten the brakes. So I pulled the rear drums again today, thinking perhaps the right hardware was on the left and visa-versa. That doesn't seem to be the case. When I turn the starwheel the direction it goes easily it does tighten the brakes. Anyone have any ideas?

 

Forgot to mention it has duelies. Not sure how to spell that.

 

The left hand end of that spring should attach to that upper hole. But if the adjusters turn in the correct direction with the drum off, There shouldn't be any else wrong. Eat some turkey, drink some adult beverage, then try again on Friday.

 

Good point Gary!

Those adjusters and ratchet clicker deal are designed so that they won't ever loosen on their own. Backing and braking - this is only designed to take up very slight clearance as the linings wear, one click at a time. it isn't an adjustment method particularly. They actually have to be adjusted manually and close to perfect for that initial setup, or the self adjusters won't work to do their thing down the road. And they usually don't work very well anyway, at least after getting corroded with road salt and getting gummed up.

It helps fo take up all the clearance or slop out first during the setup by tightening the adjusters as far as they will go, the wheels locked up solid, then depress the brake pedal several times to center the shoes. Want to come at the adjustment from the other direction, back the adjusters off till the wheels just barely spin with a light drag.

A quick test drive and braking test might show the need to tighten them up further a click or two upon return, to even them up. Thing is though, with vintage brakes, some bonehead could have installed the wrong parts 50 years ago, and unless one is familiar with that particular flavor or model it might be tough to tell. The shop manual is your friend here when dealing with brake work.

 

thanks guys!