Automatic brake adjusters gone wild
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 25
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Automatic brake adjusters gone wild
1979 F-250 camper special with power brakes. I friend brought the truck home. It smelled like burnt brakes. The emergency brake pedal would hardly move. In neutral the truck would not roll. On further inspection I found that the auto-adjusters on the rear drums had wound up so tight that you could not turn the rear wheels while the truck was blocked off the ground. After I loosened the adjusters, truck rolled and braked fine. the next opportunity I get I will be pulling the drums and see the conditions of the shoes (or whats left).
What would cause the auto-adjusters to tighten that much?
What would cause the auto-adjusters to tighten that much?
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Automatic brake adjusters gone wild
This would be a good excuse to completely rebuild the rear brakes. Have the drums turned, and don't be afraid to replace them if they're out of spec. Replace the springs, as they don't last forever (especially if they're original).
Replace the adjuster. Don't forget to put a dab of white lithium grease inside the adjuster (it will make it turn freely). I'm partial to Wagner brake products,personally. And it would also be a good time to consider replacing the flex brake hydraulic line off the rear axle.
This may seem like a lot to do, but I speak from personnal experience in paying the stupid tax. I let my 79F100 go so long that the right rear drum was so out of spec that the brake shoes had expanded to the point that it was impossible to get the drum off . I had to pound it off in pieces. In doing so, I ruined the brake equalizer bar. Luckily, one of the boneyards let me rummage through a bin and find a slightly rusty replacement.
Good luck !
Replace the adjuster. Don't forget to put a dab of white lithium grease inside the adjuster (it will make it turn freely). I'm partial to Wagner brake products,personally. And it would also be a good time to consider replacing the flex brake hydraulic line off the rear axle.
This may seem like a lot to do, but I speak from personnal experience in paying the stupid tax. I let my 79F100 go so long that the right rear drum was so out of spec that the brake shoes had expanded to the point that it was impossible to get the drum off . I had to pound it off in pieces. In doing so, I ruined the brake equalizer bar. Luckily, one of the boneyards let me rummage through a bin and find a slightly rusty replacement.
Good luck !
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 294
Likes: 5
From: Sacatomato
FYI, I could only find replacement parts at Napa for my '65 when my adjusters went outta whack. You're truck is quite a bit newer, but they should have all the parts. Would driving backwards and hitting the brakes really adjust them?
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 158
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I’m not sure that, if all is OK, backing up and breaking too much will over adjust the breaks as the amount of self-adjustment is limited by the travel of the break shoes. If the adjusters were installed on the wrong side I think they would loosen not tighten but I need to think on that one.
The cause is more likely to be improper installation of the adjuster cable, the spring or leaver responsible for the rotation of adjuster star wheel. I find it interesting that both sides did it at the same time, which indicates to me that a mistake was made on both wheels during its last assembly.
OR………….and this is out of the blue…………..
Are you sure that the E brake was off or maybe didn’t release? When you finally removed the drum were the tops of both shoes touching the top stud.
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The cause is more likely to be improper installation of the adjuster cable, the spring or leaver responsible for the rotation of adjuster star wheel. I find it interesting that both sides did it at the same time, which indicates to me that a mistake was made on both wheels during its last assembly.
OR………….and this is out of the blue…………..
Are you sure that the E brake was off or maybe didn’t release? When you finally removed the drum were the tops of both shoes touching the top stud.
<O
></O>
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 6
From: Connecticut
You can get the brake hardware kits thru your local Ford dealer, that's where I work and we get them thru our local Motorcraft wharehouse the same day. They're cheap price too! ( chinese made). Ours has all the hardware, brums, shoes, etc... also. THe 11 inch brakes are basically the same from the 57 and on in the trucks and cars, just have them look them up in the Motorcraft book, not the CPD (computer parts display)
Barry
Barry
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 3
From: Eustis FL
The e-brake cable may have returned, but the rear cables that pass through the backing plate may have seized in place. Try to pull on the cables from the wheel side with vice grips( if you finally get the drums off), and see how easy they return (or don't return). Sometimes a parking brake is left on too long, or is not used at all (I have been guilty of that) and then is stepped on, bringing a piece of rusted, overexposed piece of bare cable into its sheath, where it decides to stay.
Before attempting to pound the drum off, try to pull the cable sheath toward the front of the vehicle and see if it returns (e-brake off). If it doesn't return, even after pushing it somehow, it may be time to replace those cables. Might even cut them off to relieve the pressure on the shoes to pull the drums.
Mark
Before attempting to pound the drum off, try to pull the cable sheath toward the front of the vehicle and see if it returns (e-brake off). If it doesn't return, even after pushing it somehow, it may be time to replace those cables. Might even cut them off to relieve the pressure on the shoes to pull the drums.
Mark
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