Posted by Dennis (IP: 205.188.199.168) on December 09, 1999 at 04:57:51:
In Reply to: Re: Adjusting Drum Brakes posted by Charlie on December 08, 1999 at 23:20:28:
...clean the heck out of the selfadjusters & put some antisieze on the threads. Make sure the adjusting cables are in good shape & on the guides, not behind them. After the wheel is dragging pretty good, hit the brakes hard a few times & recheck. This will recenter the shoe assembly. Do this to all 4 wheels. I always adjust mine so that if you give a good tug, the wheel will spin around no more than a 1/2 to 3/4 turn. I like mine around 1/2. I'm not sure where the driving in reverse to adjust came from but i've always heard that myself. If you look at them you'll see that if the brake shoes has to travel too far, it will pull the cable & pick up the adjuster arm. As you let off, the arm comes down, turning the adjuster out & expanding the shoes. Works no matter which way your driving.