2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission adjusting drum brakes

[dzollner]

I have a 1998. 5 3500 with rear drum brakes and I think they need to be adjusted because when I apply the brakes it seems like they like to grab. I have never adjuste drum brakes before so I would like to know if anyone can post or pm me the procedure for adjusting the drum brakes.



Thanks in advance

 

[vssman]

My 2500 rears grab too. Every time they start to act up, I've had to change the axle seals. I'm going to be installing my third set. Anyway - Here's how you adjust the rears.

1) Chock front wheels & jack rear end (both sides), secure truck on stands.

2) Place truck in Neutral.

3) On back side of drums, remove oval shaped rubber plug.

4) Using a brake adjusting spoon or large screwdriver turn star wheel one click at a time WHILE turning wheel with your other hand.

5) Adjust the other side the same way making both sides feel like they have the same resistance.

It should take a little force to turn the wheel but not all your might.

6) Reinstall the plugs.



The truck supposedly has self adjusting brakes, but they need to be activated in reverse by backing up with a fair amount of speed and hitting the brakes hard (on the edge of lockup). They only problem is that it tends to go one click per stop.

 

[phoekema]

another adjusting step

vssman,



I think your procedure is very good. I usually do one more thing - when adjusting the star wheel I go until I can't turn the wheel by hand, then back off until there is only a slight drag. This avoids a false indication sometimes (you think the shoes are up against the drum, but they're not yet). The only difficulty I have had with this is sometimes you have to lift the automatic adjuster pawl off the star wheel to get it to loosen - it tends to act like a one-way clutch sometimes.

 

[dzollner]

Just curious on how many miles you have on your truck that you have replaced your seals three times. I have had my truck about 9 months now and it has 91000 miles on it and I have never noticed any oil on the rear wheels. I need to rotate the tires so I figured I would try adjusting the brakes to get rid of the brake grab.



Thanks for the info

 

[John Berger]

I have grabby brakes every once in awhile, usually after rain and the truck has sat for more than 2 or 3 hours.

 

[vssman]

My baby is young - only 55,000 miles. My first set went bad when I made a very, very hard panic stop - 18 wheeler ran a stop right in front of me!!! After I changed my pants, it was warrantied at the dealer probably around 25,000 miles. Second set went bad a couple of thousand miles ago. I'm just waiting for the weather to get warmer and get some motivation.



phoekema, good tip. I've done that in the past. Adusting brakes is one of those "feel" things that are hard to put in words. I just didn't want dzollner to lock his wheels up tight and then not know what to do.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Re: another adjusting step

Originally posted by phoekema

vssman,



I think your procedure is very good. I usually do one more thing - when adjusting the star wheel I go until I can't turn the wheel by hand, then back off until there is only a slight drag. This avoids a false indication sometimes (you think the shoes are up against the drum, but they're not yet). The only difficulty I have had with this is sometimes you have to lift the automatic adjuster pawl off the star wheel to get it to loosen - it tends to act like a one-way clutch sometimes.

That's how I do mine. Only problem I have is with a dually, there is not a lot of room with a floor jack under the lower shock mount/U bolt bracket.