I hate to ask this, but-- How does one adjust drum brakes? I've been told to adjust them out till they lock up each wheel and then release them till they just drag a little. Then, others tell me to just adjust for a little drag on each wheel. Any old brake guys here that can set me straight? Thanks so much Jim
That is the best way to do them. When you tighten them until they stop, everything gets seated, with all the slack taken out. Then back them up until they just barely drag. Also adjust the emergency brake so that it locks up after a few clicks. ~Alden
yes, tightening the shoes till they lock, "centers" the shoes. then back off the same amount of "clicks" on each wheel to get them even. i start with 6 "clicks" but if one of them needs more because it's too tight i loosen them all the same.
there are different types of drum brakes and adjusting them is not the same, but lets say you have self energizing with self adjusters, heres how i do self adjuster type of brakes to avoid releasing the self adjuster, i adjust the brakes till i hear them drag just a little, then i get behind the wheel and aply the brakes to center the shoes, when i spin the wheel again it's a good chance there will be no drag, i keep repeating this till i do hear a drag after centering the shoes and then adjust till the shoes so i can have the wheel do one full rotation after give it a good spin, thats how i do other peoples brakes, for my own i like no drag as long as the brakes feel good and i have a good pedal height.
After you set them as above, press the pedal hard and check again while the wheel is still off the ground. That will center everything for sure. Usually no change, but sometimes they need setting again.
What brakes?/? Seems Ford is likely, and there are several common versions of that with different procedures. Make and year..."drum brakes" is a bit too general.
I yard on the parking brake cable a couple times while adjusting as well. Otherwise, tight, then back off to barely drag.
I was taught to do the snug then back off way. I got a kick of a certain dude on a certain show the other night spinning a drum so freely it looked like a roulette wheel, while saying "a perfectly set brake job"
Boy, thanks for all the help! I really appreciate it... The fronts are the Lincoln, and the rears are Ford 9". I'll give it a try with the tightening till they lock and then release. Thanks Jim
As a brake mechanic for years, I suggest the original plan. Adjust each brake set with the wheel and tire on. Spin in a forward motion while adjusting. SLOWLY adjust until you cannot spin the tire by hand and back off just enough to hear a VERY slight drag. THEN after all of that, bleed the brakes if needed. Always adjust prior to bleeding. I also suggest taking the vehicle for a ride around a few blocks, starting and stopping and then re-adjusting or at least re-checking..
My Caddy 56 you adjust so the wheel dont turn, then back 12 clicks. Otherwise i use the same method as 31Dodger
But...some Ford brakes and also '40s-'50's Bendix brakes have TWO forms of adjustment, with both being required to center up new shoes, only one needed once shoes are properly set and worn in or arced... So, what are we adjusting Here? Apples, oranges, or Hupmobiles?? On the setup finally described...his rear brakes are presumably late Bendix, adjusted only with clicker wheel, the Lincolns up front are early Bendix and require centering at the upper pin followed by adjustment of lower clicker... Also, if front drums are original Lincoln there are slots in drum so feeler gauge can be used directly for centering; if repro, feelers have to be laid inside for adjustment. Also...if the Lincoln backing plates are reproduction...did they reproduce the centering process, or are they actually late Bendix with immovable anchor pin??
On some cars with self adjusting brakes, turning the adjuster backward will unhook the adjuster pawl/plate. To back off those kind of brakes a rod is inserted through the adjuster slot and the pawl/plate is pushed away from the star wheel.
They are reproduced Lincolns on the front, with the Moveable pin used to center the shoes. That has been done. The rears are late model Ford F-150 brakes that are self-adjusting Jim
OK...once anchors have been adjusted to center, the Lincoln book calls for adjustment to some drag with the lower adjustment, back off 14 clicks. Your mileage my vary, with a need for tighter, if brake shoes are a bit fuzzy or if drum and shoe radii do not match well enough. The bulletins contain a useful bit...ideal is 010 clearance which is what the 14 clicks are supposed to equal, same as the feeler used in the centering operation. Knowing where you want to end up is better than doing it by rote.
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