\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Locate the jacking spot close to the rear wheels and place a jack to lift up one side of the vehicle from the ground. References. Often, a vehicles drum brakes need to be adjusted to provide proper braking force. Which Way Do You Turn Drum Brake Adjuster? Grab both sides of the rear rotor and pull away from the wheel hub. I would definitely request him again and pass along to friends/family. . Turn the brake drum so that the access hole is aligned with the drums adjuster screw. The older cars (e.g. It may also be time to. Made with in Silicon Valley. Which way do you loosen drum brake adjuster? Gain access to the rear of the drum assembly and look for an inspection while which is closed up with a rubber grommet. Another method is to simply use the parking brake up and down repeatedly. This is done through the brake adjustment hole in the drum or on the backing plate using a brake adjuster tool to turn the adjuster to loosen the brakes enough to remove the drum. Do the torque procedure in a star pattern as well. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. As you push the adjuster downwards with your screwdriver, the adjustment wheel moves upwards or in a clockwise direction. Reply Like. Turn the brake drum so that the access hole is aligned with the drum's adjuster screw. This should pull the center cable tight at the end (s) without pulling at the front. # 5. Next, youll want to adjust the star wheel. Pull the slack to its applied position . YourMechanics technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. Unbolting the wheel will allow you to loosen the lug nuts holding the wheel. I would recommend having a qualified professional use a digital multimeter to test the brake switch circuit for excess resistance. Most brake lathes can tackle brake rotors (pictured) and . When there is much space between the brake and the drum, most modern cars have automatic adjuster which senses the anomaly and reset themselves when you apply the emergency brakes. Rxmechanic.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Be careful not to use an open-ended spanner as it will damage the adjuster. When the gap gets big enough, the adjusting lever rocks enough to advance the adjuster gear by one tooth. Drum brakes are sometimes found on the rear wheels of entry-level cars for cost savings, and in classic cars. Look over your work and confirm that everything is in position. To adjust it out a little bit, I'm just going to slide this down. Periodic adjustment of the drum brakes makes sure that the brakes do not drag when driving as this can rob power from the vehicle and cause the brakes to wear out much more quickly. What would a seized drum brake adjuster cause? Turn the brake drum so that the access hole is aligned with the drums adjuster screw. To adjust the outer brake pad on a mechanical disc brake, loosen the screw on the arm so you can reposition the cable clamp. They can adjust themselves going forward or backward. If you dont, the brake pedal will have to be pushed down too far before the brakes engage. A modicum of self-adjustment has been built into drum brake systems, but the catch is that this self-adjuster only works when the car is being driven in reverse on some vehicles and only when the parking brake is engaged in others. You can get one at you local parts store shouldn't be more than a few dollars. Chevrolet Cruze L4-1.8L - Adjust Drum Brakes - Aurora, Colorado. expert reply by: Mike L. The drum brake adjuster is located under an access cover in the back of the drum brake. Before you re-tighten the parking cable adjuster, though, put some anti-seize on its threads. Loosen the lug nuts with the vehicle on the ground, raise the vehicle with a jack and jack stands, remove the lug nuts and tire. Pro Tips for Adjusting the Drum Brake on Your Trailer. a) remove the brake cylinder bleeder screw just in case some pressure is keeping the shoes out against the drum. Step 2: Tighten the Adjuster. If you cant locate the plug by feel, carefully slide your upper body under the vehicle and find it visually. After adjusting the brakes, test them by spinning the wheel. But be careful with the spoon thing. Before long youll be able to slot the blade by feel. Reinstall the car tires you removed previously. He came back with the parts and fixed it just great, then I asked about another thing and he checked it and said what it was and came back and fixed that as well. Two screwdrivers are needed, insert the first screwdriver into the hole, push back the lock. The drum brake system uses friction caused by the set of brake pads that presses against the hydraulic wheel cylinders. First and foremost, locate the drum brake adjuster. Move the star wheel backward and forwards to ensure that the adjustment is correct. At the rear end of the vehicle, place the jack at a safe location under the vehicle and lift one side of the vehicle off the ground. He started writing automotive articles to share his garage experience with car enthusiasts and armature mechanics. The adjuster plate will only allow you to turn the adjuster wheel in one direction (tightening) - as you're looking at the adjuster wheel from the access hole, this would be turning the wheel in an upward direction. Press the rubber plug securely into place. If he is not in the garage fixing challenging mechanical problems, he is writing automotive repair guides, buyers guides, and car and tools comparisons. Locate the access hole on the outside of the brake drum. In most vehicles, the right place to turn the adjuster is clockwise while few others are designed to work anti-clockwise. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. In some cases, you can simply adjust the star wheel adjuster with a screwdriver. Using the screwdriver, gently pry out the rubber grommet that protects this access cover. How do you loosen the brake drum adjuster? Lever the spoon up and down to adjust the brakes by spreading the adjuster. Pump the brake pedal a couple of times before driving. Turn the brake drum so that the access hole is aligned with the drum's adjuster screw. However, there are few signs that show your brake shoes require adjustment. Repairs covered by 12-month/12,000-mile warranty. If they get too far away from the drum (as the shoes wear down, for instance), the piston will require more fluid to travel that distance, and your brake pedal will sink closer to the floor when you apply the brakes. This type of adjuster can come out of adjustment if the emergency brake is not used for long periods of time. These high and low spots are caused by residual check valves that keep a small amount of brake fluid on the wheel cylinder cup seals even after the pedal is released. How do I move my physical server to Azure? Use a jack stand to keep the car in place. He even went out of his way to come back to my vehicle outside of my scheduled appointment time to install a part that became available earlier than anticipated. Once you have removed the wheel, you should be able to turn the wheel to feel the drag. The slightest pressure on the brake pedal, will then cause the brakes to work at full force, causing the lock up. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to others or use him again. Next, we're going to install the drum. Drum brakes need to be adjusted from time to time to make sure they function properly throughout their lifespan. 5. To avoid this, cancel and sign in to YouTube on your computer. I would recommend Frank to my friends and I will be using him again in the future. The Drum/Sprocket bolts to the wheel with the supplied hardware, then the Brake slips into place. Make sure your E-brake is not on and remove the rubber plug on the backing plate that covers the brake adjustment access hole. The adjuster uses the self-actuation principle we discussed above. Grab the brake drum by the edges and pull it off. Don't forget to make sure the parking brake is effective. Slide the brake drums off the wheels studs. If there is a problem with the adjuster, it can over adjust. Bleed that brake, and move on to the other side. Remember to use a second screwdriver to keep the adjuster . Make sure to loosen the screws enough before adjusting the brakes.