Adjust rear Brakes

[Bob Ellithorpe]

On a 94 dually,if you want to adjust the rear brakes by using a brake spoon, which way tightens the brakes?? Moving the starwheel up or down ?? Does this apply to both the right and left wheels?? Or do you turn it one way for the right wheel and the other way for the left wheel??

Haven't done this for some years and figured I'd better ask before trying it.



Bob Ellithorpe

 

[QRTRHRS]

Bob,



I just did my 97' this morning. I don't know if the model years are similar. Laying behind the axle, looking at the right side, the wheel goes clockwise and the left goes counter clockwise. In other words, using your adjusting tool be it a screwdriver or specialty brake tool cantilever fashion, the "handle" would go down. You can peek in at the threads which are foreward of the star wheel. If your going the right way, fresh threads are going to be exposed. I took both rubber plugs off, using the forward hole to insert a screwdriver to push the so called "automatic adjuster away". One side went well, the other stuck a bit.



I tighten mine until the brake just starts to touch and the wheel suddenly will not turn. Then back off a few clicks so it does. It's important that both sides are adjusted the same. Your brakes are going to grab quickly if you back off only slightly so be ready for that.

 

[1tuffram]

does the special brake adj wrench make the job a lot easier than using a screw driver?? If so which brake adj wrench is needed for our RAMs? I see several different size and shaped wrenchs and don't know which would work short of purchasing all of them and tring each out.

 

[illflem]

I've found that one with a 45° angle works fine, a screwdriver doen't work too bad also.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have a Craftsman, had it for years, it's kind of wide and has one straight side, one angled. I use it because I have it but I think a screwdriver works just as well. Either way, if the star wheel is a bit hard to turn, you may find yourself cussing a bit.



I wanted to add one thing about my first post on how tight to make them. If you tow, you may not want them to be too "grabby". IMHO, it's alway better to have the trailer a little tighter than the trucks rear axle. Just a little, not much. This will help minimize jacknifing in a panic stop or on a slippery road. This is more relevent to an 18 wheeler but still applicable.