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........

 

[haks310]

lol yeah don't worry, I am the same, always put the parking brake on no matter what.

 

[992dr]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info.
I havent been able to take any shots yet, its been raining for 3 days off and on.

haks,
Lol, I thought I was the only one who uses the parking brake whenever I park my Hoe, hah.

 

[retorq]

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.

Parking gear inside your tranny is a physical bar/gear setup. There isn't anything that's going to 'slip' once its engaged. Unless of course you have a manual tranny, then there is no parking gear and it can slip.

---------- Post added at 10:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:53 AM ----------

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."

Interesting .....

 

[992dr]

retorq,
What I'm refering to is when you park on an incline or decline. If you put your truck in park while on an incline and let off of the brakes it will roll a little bit. Then, when you try to put it back in gear it is a little harder to do so and it tends to clunk into gear.

Here's those pics, a little late but better late than never hah.

 

[Pflug]

Of course it's probably more secure having the park pawl locked fully in place on an incline rather than having that little bit of slack

 

[AtomicHoe094]

Parking gear inside your tranny is a physical bar/gear setup. There isn't anything that's going to 'slip' once its engaged. Unless of course you have a manual tranny, then there is no parking gear and it can slip.

my uncles GTO was parked on an incline before and it jumped out of park or whatever happened and ran over my grandpa.... im not sure if new cars are any safer then the olds but i hope soo! lol

and i was told like TTwin that it only adjusts in reverse too. But shit my rear brakes dont even work. i need a new proportioning valve. and those rear disc brakes will soon help too once i install them,