Rear Brake Adjustment

[Archive]

How do you tell when the rear brakes are adjusted properly ? I have always turned the wheel as fast as possible and tighten until I could here the shoes starting to make contack with the drum. This is hard to do with the bigger trucks.

------------------
95,2500,auto,410;2-WD
Gear Vender Overdrive
tst #5

 

[Archive]

Steve,

When I change the oil and lube the truck I check the brakes. So the way I do the adjustment is to turn the ajustment wheel until the drum won't quite go back on. Then loosen it just enuf so I can slide it on. That seems to be just right. I use a little WD40 on the ajustment wheel screw so I can do it with just my fingers. Quick and easy since I take the drums off for the brake check anyway.

------------------
Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,Torque plate,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[Archive]

I'm gonna bounce this over to the chassis forum, it should get more "play" and some more results over there where it's more "on" topic.

Thanks for posting
Mark


------------------
ICQ 3807791 (BBSMan)Home Domain www.my2kcity.com (Under construction)
Email powerwagon@my2kcity.com
12 Valve Forum moderator and Procrastinator extraordinaire...
Tow-er '65 Power Wagon Crew Cab, Tow-ee '70 Boles Aero 28'

 

[Archive]

It seems I have to adjust mine three times between oil changes. I jack up the rear and spin the tire by hand while clicking away at the adjuster... stop when the shoes drag.

-Mike

------------------
'00 QC 2500 4x4, 6spd, LB, LSD, 3. 54, SLT, Dark Garnet, Agate, Camper, Trailer, Fogs, Clarion 6-disc, Smittybilt nerfs, Midland CB, Isspro pyro & boost, K&N Scotty Air, 3" pipe bomb, 2wd low, OEM tailgate lites, Tow hooks, DD stage II, BFG 285/75, 5. 9L R/T

A vulgar display of power!

 

[Archive]

I tried to remove the rear drums on my 97 could'nt get them off. The emergency brake cables had slack in them. I usually just adjust the rear shoes till there's a drag on the drum. Thats really hard to determine, how evenly they are as the,wheels are tuff to turn with all the drag of the drive train. Any thought's. Thanks Tom F.

------------------
97 Ram 2500 4x4 Driftwood 5spd 3:54 E-brake Isspro,boost&pyro guages 25,500 miles

 

[Archive]

Mine just pull off and so should yours. Could be rusty. They come with some little clips on the lugs, but the first person who does a brake job usually throws them away. Some WD40 and a few whacks with a rubber mallet or piece of wood should loosen them up. If the drums will pull out a bit and seem to hang up you probably have built up ridges on the edges of the drum. In that case, you need to back off the adjustment wheel until the drum will pull off. If the ridge is just rust and dirt you can just scrape them off. If the drum is worn so that the ridges are not just rust and dirt a trip to the brake shop to get them turned is needed.

------------------
Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,Torque plate,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[Archive]

I found out that the self adjusters on the back brakes are not very reliable. This past winter I pulled up to a stop light and while waiting for the light to turn green I noticed that the rear end was bouncing up and down, I looked out the window and saw the rear tires spinning on the compact snow. Needless to say I took the truck straight home and adjusted the brakes. I feel this needs to be done during routine maintenance.

 

[Archive]

Is everyone on this thread saying that they are following the self-adjusting procedure on a regular basis (backing up and braking at a decent speed for 20 feet or so) and this isn't working?

------------------
'01 2500 SLT+, QC, LWB, 4X4, 3. 54s, AT, every option but running lights! To come: 19. 5"s (?), lift, Line-X, Exhaust brake, 4" turbo to tail, etc...

'98 DUCATI ST2 "Bombed" 944CC with Ducati Performance Carbon Fiber Exhaust, F. I. M. Chip, K&N and "modified" air box.

 

[Archive]

Bingo, Scooby!

Actually, we gave up trying some time ago.

------------------
Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,Torque plate,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

[This message has been edited by Joe G. (edited 05-30-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

Dodge assembled my adjuster screws with think grease that set up like putty. It's no wonder the adjuster arm spring couldn't turn them. I cleaned them and used Neverseez. They're working fine so far. GM has used this kind of adjuster forever and I never had any problems with the 2 dozen or so GM's I've had. Craig

------------------
97 3/4Ton, 2WD, 5SP, #11 Plate, 14 Housing, AF942M Air filter, Gutted Cat, 4"From Turbo, Shortened Frame, Custom Bed, HEY FORDBOY POWERSTROKE THIS!

 

[Archive]

Scooby,

Just backing up and stopping will NOT adjust your rear drum brakes. You have to back up, stop, go forward, stop, back up, stop... . etc This is what it takes to actually make the automatic adjusters work. The shoes shifting backward, forward, backward is what pulls on the likage and rotates the starwheel (assuming there is enough clearance between the shoes and drums to 'allow' the starwheels to rotate. ) If the clearance is OK, the shifting won't be enough to actually move the starwheel.
Brake jobs USED to be one of my duties at a long forgotten alignment shop I worked at. #ad
:

Mick

------------------
2001 2500 ETH/DEE, QuadCab, 4X4, SB, LSD, 3. 54, SLT+, Sport, Intense Blue PC/Agate, Tow Package, Camper Package, 'DC' Bed Cover, Sliding rear window. Ordered 5/01/00... Cancelled 5/30/00 ?????
Gauges (EGT/Boost) and A-Pillar mount Here, 4" Exhaust on order.
-- email address removed --

[This message has been edited by Mick2500 (edited 05-31-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

Thanks for the correction, Mick. BTW, I used to live in Tucson for a good 8 years or so ('77- '85) always liked it out there!

 

[Archive]

Will the adjuster run back the other way if you accidentally go too far?

------------------
95 2500 SLT Laramie 3. 54, automatic,Herculiner bed liner, JVC cd out of factory infinity system, southwest grill gaurd (a favorite amongst the deer population), K&N, AFC adjusted, dual straight exhaust out of "gutless" cat, Geno's dual EGT/boost gauge, TST #6 plate slid all the way forward, AFC housing slid all the way forward

 

[Archive]

Danandme
The self adjusters (ha ha) can be backed off by inserting a small screw driver through the slot and pushing the adjusting pawl away from the star wheel and holding it away while turning the star wheel in the opposite direction, easy to say PITA to do. Usually if they arnt to tight a couple of applications of braking loosens them up ok.
John

------------------
96 SLT C\C 2wd 5spd 3. 54 straight pipe. Bed liner,Twin Aluminum tool boxes, 45 gal bed mounted aux tank. Member
USPSA\NRA

 

[Archive]

Scooby,
Drop me an E-Mail, I need an opinion on something related to one of your other toys... #ad


Danandme,
If you make the adjustment too tight, the auto(?) adjuster will have no effect EXCEPT it will lock-in that too tight adjustment. To loosen the adjuster just follow the previous reply from Deezul1 John. It IS a real PITA to do it the first time but it gets easier.

Mick

------------------
2001 2500 ETH/DEE, QuadCab, 4X4, SB, LSD, 3. 54, SLT+, Sport, Intense Blue PC/Agate, Tow Package, Camper Package, 'DC' Bed Cover, Sliding rear window. Ordered 5/01/00... Cancelled 5/30/00
Gauges (EGT/Boost) and A-Pillar mount Here, 4" Exhaust on order.

-- email address removed --