Technical Dumbass Friday Question: '51 Chevy car front brakes

Happy Friday all!!

Quick sanity check question.

I currently have the drums/hubs off the front of my '51 Styleline to replace the wheel studs.

The previous owner mentioned they had gone through the brakes when they got the car and it all seems in good shape and fairly new, EXCEPT it appears the adjuster at the bottom is in the wrong way around?

Just wanted to confirm, the 'toothed' adjuster should be inline with the slot in the backing plate right?

I can get a pic later but I think y'all know what I'm talking about.

Thanks again Gents.

J

 

yup

 

Yessir, so you can get your brake spoon in there & adjust the shoes.

 

Some backing plates have two slots in them.

 

AND....The adjusters on the brakes have a left side version and a right side version. They are marked on the end of the threaded shaft portion of the adjuster. Don't mix them up, or your self-adjusting function will become a "self UN-adjuster".

 

I didn’t think they self adjusted?

I put it all back as I thought it should be last night and the adjusters were identical, both RH thread. Had to flip the shoes on the incorrect side to get the adjuster by the slot in the backing plate.

 

I thought those wheels are "self adjusters". You set them initially when installing new shoes.
Then from there they self adjust as needed. When you put the car in reverse & give the brakes a good quick stop.
At least that's what I recall. It's been alot of years since automotive shop school...

 

GM didn't have self adjusting brakes until the early 60's.

 

I certainly won't argue, As I'm going from slightly burned out memory.
& The last drum brakes I've done recently we're our 64 Elco.
Thanks for setting it correct. I hate to give misinformation.
Hopefully this time I'll remember... No promises.

 

no problem fella, did make me think for a second haha!

 

1963 I believe. There is a wonderful Chevrolet training filmstrip on You Tube about how to install and service these adjusters. It also mentions the self adjusters can be installed on older models as well.

 

This sounds fishy....

Did you notice if the shoe with the long lining is still on the back side of the brake?

 

Yea don’t worry I caught that after reading an old thread on here.

Weirdly the ‘cup’ for the toothed end of the adjuster is attached to the shoe? I was expecting a ‘grooved’ separate piece that slipped either side of the shoe like the other end.

But nope the ‘cup’ is welded on and has the same golden brown coating the rest of the shoe body has. Bizarre!

tbh the brakes always worked fine before with no pulling. It’s all assembled by the book now, just needs adjusting up.

 

On these brakes can't you just grind the rivets off then be able to slide the drum on off to do brakes without removing the hub ?
It's been 40 yrs since I done it, but that's all there is to it right ?

 

It looks like that could be possible yes.

if I’m honest I don’t mind pulling the whole hub and drum assembly as it gives me a chance to check and regrease the bearings.

 

I believe a 51 was the last style of your brakes. 52 up was a change. Manufacturers did go to self adjusters (they work by the twisting motion when applying brakes while stopping BACKING up) and are/were perfect for rears. Front sometimes caused problems because cautious (old lady) driver did not apply enough pedal pressure at the end of the backing to properly “click” the adjusting arm. Front discs fixed all that..

 

Not on the cars...50 was the last year of Huck, 51 was the first year of Bendix style.