Brake drum adjustment
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 310
Likes: 50
Brake drum adjustment
Hey guys, in in dire need of immediate assistance. I need to know the 100‰ correct direction i need to spin the star wheel adjuster on the driver's rear wheel to loosen it. I'm on the side of the road with a locked up rear wheel and have been trying to loosen it up, but it doesn't want to move much either way.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,310
Likes: 365
From: Kansas
what are you working on? MOST of the time you pull a brake adjuster tool down to tighten through the slot on the back...so try sticking something in to hold the adjuster lever back away from the star wheel and try going the opposite...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 995
Likes: 317
Normally if you put blade of pry tool through slot at top of starwheel and push upward on handle to rotate the wheel downward, that will loosen. But as mentioned if the ratchet bar has a good bite on the wheel sometimes you have to insert another tool to push it back away to allow free rotation. This is best method vs forcing it against spring tension to jump the teeth.
The self adjuster ratchet bar is always on top outside (closest to tire) of the starwheel and it pushes the starwheel downward (when facing brakes with wheel off) when self adjusting tighter. So that means tightening with pry tool through the slot in backplate would be putting blade of pry tool at bottom of wheel and pushing down on handle which rotates the wheel upward.
I hope all this blubbering didn't complicate the answer.
The self adjuster ratchet bar is always on top outside (closest to tire) of the starwheel and it pushes the starwheel downward (when facing brakes with wheel off) when self adjusting tighter. So that means tightening with pry tool through the slot in backplate would be putting blade of pry tool at bottom of wheel and pushing down on handle which rotates the wheel upward.
I hope all this blubbering didn't complicate the answer.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,797
Likes: 2,599
From: The Shenandoah Valley
That is a nice clear picture up there. ^^^^ It's even rotated for a left rear brake.
Yeah, use small narrow screwdriver to just move the lever a short ways out toward the wheel, then a brake spoon or other screwdriver to push the teeth of the adjust star wheel downward on the backing plate side nearest you, it should quickly loosen up. You'll have to loosen it up enough for brake shoes to clear a lip where the drum surface isn't worn too. That means lever handle goes up if you are prying against the slot.
In a brake job, Never mix adjuster parts in a bucket to clean them, too easy to mix up adjuster screw assemblies which are threaded opposite. Why I do one side at a time.
Yeah, use small narrow screwdriver to just move the lever a short ways out toward the wheel, then a brake spoon or other screwdriver to push the teeth of the adjust star wheel downward on the backing plate side nearest you, it should quickly loosen up. You'll have to loosen it up enough for brake shoes to clear a lip where the drum surface isn't worn too. That means lever handle goes up if you are prying against the slot.
In a brake job, Never mix adjuster parts in a bucket to clean them, too easy to mix up adjuster screw assemblies which are threaded opposite. Why I do one side at a time.
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2019
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Ok, thanks for the info. I did get it home. I know about the locking lever, but I couldn't get any grip with my screwdriver. After hours of trying, apparently tightening it and waiting on the German equivalent of AAA, it finally broke free or i got just enough grip to get the wheel to turn up. I was too busy to see your posts until now, but thanks all the same guys! I appreciate it.
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More Turbo
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 665
Likes: 139
From: Lakeside, Arizona
Im, thanks for the info. I did get it home. I know about the locking lever, but I couldn't get any grip with my screwdriver. After his of trying, apparently tightening it and waiting on the German equivalent of AAA, it finally broke free or i got just enough grip to get the wheel to turn up. I was too busy to see your posts until now, but thanks all the same guys! I appreciate it.
The ONLY time I had happen to me what you described is when a shoe has failed and broken apart inside the drum... Not saying a number of other issues may be at fault, but this was my case. A leaky cylinder destroyed the shoe and it just crumbled apart.
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2019
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 310
Likes: 50
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 310
Likes: 50
It IS a beautiful pic! I bought all new hardware so it was probably me mixing up the sides when I put them in. I'll see when I open it up.
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