Drum brake Gurus, please come inside.

[992dr]

I have a question and I'm rather confused about this.
I had my drums replaced, everything. Drums, springs, shoes, everything.
Well, I took off my drum and found a peice of metal floating around. That turned out to be a peice of the self adjusting bracket.

How the heck does that thing work? The self adjusting bracket.

Also, do they self adjust every time you press on the brakes? I'm clueless, sorry.

I ask because when reinstalling the new ones, they floated out and hit the back of the axle, where the studs are.
So, to make a long story short, I bent them so they were touching the adjusting nut.

Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[retorq]

They adjust when you apply the parking brake. That level that applies that spins the star adjuster out a lil bit each time. That adjuster only goes one way ... it's common that they get put in backwards.

 

[95TwinTT]

It was my understanding that the auto adjustors were intended to adjust while braking in Reverse.

if there too much travel, the flexing allows the adjuster to reach another tooth on the wheel.

Brake shoes are typically made to be more effecient on forward braking than reverse. That is why the brakes slowly lock up if the adjusters are installed backwards..........

 

[retorq]

Hmmm guess someone will have to pull a drum and snap some pics.

I'm sure it worked that way on my Camaro ... I'm assuming it's the same theory in the Tahoe. :|

 

[T-Bagg]

Did you get it reinstalled. That adjuster is actuated when ever you apply the parking brake. So it's a good idea to set your parking brake every now and then to compensate for the wear of your shoes.

 

[haks310]

Yeah, I was also under the impression they were adjusted every time you set the parking brake. Hence why I always set my parking brake.

 

[95TwinTT]

It is very likely that the parking brake can adjust the brakes as well.

I know for certain that the adjustment also happens in reverse for those of us that never use the parking brake.

I have not used the parking brake in any of my cars and trucks for the past 45 years and they always had the drum brakes adjusted properly.

 

[95TwinTT]

FYI

This is what the Haynes Repair Manual mentions about self adjusters...

"Back the vehicle up, making repeated stops, to actuate the self-adjusters, which work only when the vehicle is in reverse."

 

[992dr]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info.

I hope they dont adjust every time I apply my parking brake. I'm one of those freaks who uses my parking brake every time I park, whether its on a hill or flat surface. I dont know why, I had always thought it was bad for the truck to roll on the tranny, especially if parked on an incline or decline.

I'll try to take some shots tomorrow but will most likely take them Sunday.


95TT,
Your truck is bad-ass.

 

[95TwinTT]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info.

I hope they dont adjust every time I apply my parking brake. I'm one of those freaks who uses my parking brake every time I park, whether its on a hill or flat surface. I dont know why, I had always thought it was bad for the truck to roll on the tranny, especially if parked on an incline or decline.

I'll try to take some shots tomorrow but will most likely take them Sunday.


95TT,
Your truck is bad-ass.

Hey, Thanks.

Just so you know.......... The brake adjuster can not advance to the next tooth of the wheel, unless there is enough movement to allow it to reach the next tooth.

In other words, It can not over adjust itself..... Use your parking brake as much as you want........