How to adjust 10" drums?

[bowtiefreak]

Ok, whats the trick? On the 11" drum the adjuster is at the bottom and has a knock out. The 10" is at the top and does not have a knock out. How does one go about adjusting them?

I have tried tightening them up as best possible to the point I can barely get the drum on but once the drum is on there is just about zero drag.

I hope there is a simple answer to this.

A quick background at my frustration: when to install a master cylinder...went to bleed brakes and stripped 3 of 4 bleeders. So all new wheel cylinders, calipers and a master today. On the test drive the radiator split. Not a great day.

So, how do I adjust those drums?

 

[retorq]

Engaging and disengaging the parking brake over and over should adjust them.

 

[bowtiefreak]

I was trying that. Not really much help. I will try the slam on the brake in reverse thing too

 

[SunlitComet]

you really need to match the diameters of the drum and shoes as much as possible. put the drum on with two opposing lug nuts mounted down. check for resistance to turning the drum to see if it is loose. remove the drum adjust, reinstall and check again. repeat until you get some minor resistance that can be felt throughout one rotation of the wheel. repeat for the other wheel. once that is done the adjusters should be automatic then. if you just put drums on with the adjusters totaling loose they will likely never adjust automatically to fill the shoe to drum gap and you run the possibility of popping the wheel cylinders pistons out.

 

[bowtiefreak]

Thanks Sunlit, that's exactly what I did. Test fit again and again

 

[SunlitComet]

unless you get make adjustment slot access that is how you have to roll.

 

[bowtiefreak]

Yeah but I was really hoping I missed something obvious.

 

[SunlitComet]

more like a gm did.

 

[bowtiefreak]

Well, yeah. WTF? Oh well. Got it all buttoned up tonight and it stops really well again. Thanks all for the help