Adjusting Drum Brakes
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
From: Poplar-Point Manitoba
No problem.
Jack up one wheel at a time,adjust to full lock,then back off the adjuster 6 to 12 clicks.
Make sure the wheel turns with a slight amount of drag,then adjust all wheels the same amount.
The more you adjust them,the less pedal you will have,so don't back them off too far.
Graham
Jack up one wheel at a time,adjust to full lock,then back off the adjuster 6 to 12 clicks.
Make sure the wheel turns with a slight amount of drag,then adjust all wheels the same amount.
The more you adjust them,the less pedal you will have,so don't back them off too far.
Graham
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Larry,
I've always adjusted drum brakes by tightening them up until you can spin the tire only 1/4 to 1/2 turn. It's always worked for me. If you find that it still pulls, then you have another problem. A bad brake hose, scored drum, bad wheel cylinder, or even the shoes themselves can cause a pull to one side. I recently had to replace some perfectly good looking brake shoes to eliminate a pull. Sometimes you can't tell just by looking at them.
I've always adjusted drum brakes by tightening them up until you can spin the tire only 1/4 to 1/2 turn. It's always worked for me. If you find that it still pulls, then you have another problem. A bad brake hose, scored drum, bad wheel cylinder, or even the shoes themselves can cause a pull to one side. I recently had to replace some perfectly good looking brake shoes to eliminate a pull. Sometimes you can't tell just by looking at them.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 2
From: Northwest Fl
If you get any oil/fluid or grease on a brake lining it will give you the effect of the opposite brake shoe grabbing. Wiping the contaminant off will not cure the problem as the brakes lining absorbs the fluids. Bad wheel cylinders are usually the cause of the problem but as Vern mentioned it could be a lot of things.
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