Self-adjusters won't adjust! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**COBALT** · 05-26-2006, 06:53 PM

After rebuilding the rear drum brakes I can't seem to get the shoes to engage the drums. I put them in (I thought) so that they barely touched, but the petal is going pretty far down (the brakes are bled) before I get any braking. Also, the e-brake seems to be close to ineffective.

I'm thinking that the little holes on the bottom of the brake assembly flange is where I can manually turn the adjusters. Is this true?..Or, do I keep backing up and hitting the brakes to get them to adjust on their own?

Chevrolet4x4s · 05-26-2006, 07:33 PM

You can do either.Did you possibly put them in wrong?
Shane

hotrodhomi · 05-26-2006, 08:18 PM

YOu need to get the brakes close before the self adjusters will work. back of the adjuster until you have cant out the drum back on, then go the other way until you can get it back on there. That will take out the slop.

**COBALT** · 05-28-2006, 07:51 PM

Duh, I figured it out. I had a lot of slop in between the shoes and the drums. I pulled the plugs out in the back of the brake flanges, and adjusted the adjusters by clicking the adjuster wheels manually with a small screw driver until they couldn't turn any more. The shoes were touching then, and a few times backing up and putting on the brakes evened them out. They're perfect now, and I don't have to push the brake petal or e-brake very hard at all to get good brakes.

I think overall the adjusters are meant to adjust negatively (from tigher to looser) rather than the other way around. In other words its better to have them too tight to begin with than loose. The adjusters simply didn't work when they were that loose.

qksilver · 05-28-2006, 10:23 PM

They need to drag a slight bit when you remachine and reshoe them, then I break them in and then pull the drum clean, lube and readjust them and they will be fine if you use the emergency brake.

4x4Poet · 05-29-2006, 05:12 AM

Did you use new adjusters and levers?

**COBALT** · 05-29-2006, 01:51 PM

Yes.

05-26-2006, 06:53 PM	#1
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	Self-adjusters won't adjust! After rebuilding the rear drum brakes I can't seem to get the shoes to engage the drums. I put them in (I thought) so that they barely touched, but the petal is going pretty far down (the brakes are bled) before I get any braking. Also, the e-brake seems to be close to ineffective. I'm thinking that the little holes on the bottom of the brake assembly flange is where I can manually turn the adjusters. Is this true?..Or, do I keep backing up and hitting the brakes to get them to adjust on their own? __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

05-26-2006, 07:33 PM	#2
Chevrolet4x4s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: WV Posts: 227	Re: Self-adjusters won't adjust! You can do either.Did you possibly put them in wrong? Shane __________________ 1993 K1500 350 5 speed 1985 K10 Silverado Vortec 406 5 speed (in body shop) "I been drivin' this '85 pickup truck Them buddies of mine call it a bucket of rust She's a little beat up but she still runs like the wind Yeah, kinda like me I been banged and bruisedBeen around the block a time or two But I'm runnin' like new goin' places I never been No, I ain't broke I'm just broken in" 1963 Dodge Townwagon(its amazng what 30 years and zero miles will do to a vehicle ) Member#20327

05-26-2006, 08:18 PM	#3
hotrodhomi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 3,737	Re: Self-adjusters won't adjust! YOu need to get the brakes close before the self adjusters will work. back of the adjuster until you have cant out the drum back on, then go the other way until you can get it back on there. That will take out the slop. __________________ '72 2wd blazer, bagged w/ watts link & EDC '72 C10 "Lowered Farm Truck" STOLEN 5-18-11 '66 impala ht

05-28-2006, 07:51 PM	#4
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	Re: Self-adjusters won't adjust! Duh, I figured it out. I had a lot of slop in between the shoes and the drums. I pulled the plugs out in the back of the brake flanges, and adjusted the adjusters by clicking the adjuster wheels manually with a small screw driver until they couldn't turn any more. The shoes were touching then, and a few times backing up and putting on the brakes evened them out. They're perfect now, and I don't have to push the brake petal or e-brake very hard at all to get good brakes. I think overall the adjusters are meant to adjust negatively (from tigher to looser) rather than the other way around. In other words its better to have them too tight to begin with than loose. The adjusters simply didn't work when they were that loose. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

05-28-2006, 10:23 PM	#5
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: Self-adjusters won't adjust! They need to drag a slight bit when you remachine and reshoe them, then I break them in and then pull the drum clean, lube and readjust them and they will be fine if you use the emergency brake.

05-29-2006, 05:12 AM	#6
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	Re: Self-adjusters won't adjust! Did you use new adjusters and levers? __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup.

05-29-2006, 01:51 PM	#7
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	Re: Self-adjusters won't adjust! Yes. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

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