Rear brake adjustment

[maverick]

Hi Can anyone tell me the best way to operate the rear brakedrum self adjuster ratchet,

I had to try to slacken off after slight binding.I understand how the self adjustment works,and successfully adjusted brakeusing the pedal but found it difficult to operate the rachet to slacken off

I ended up pushing a very thin screwdriver blade between the teeth of the ratchet to open it up and allow to go back,to slacken shoe clearance this was difficult as access is tight through the hole in the hub.

What is the correct tool to use,should I be lifting the top of ratchet with snout nose pliers if I could get them in?

There must be a better way,any tips /help greatly appreciated.

There is nothing in my ROMs re how to operate the rachet to slacken off.

Regards Mark

[GDPR]

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I personally use a very big flat blade screwdriver, put it through the drum/flange hole into the elongated hole in the adjuster then twist it to release the adjuster - works every time

Russ

[maverick]

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Thanks Kryten,

Thats whats confusing me ,on my set up,I can only just see the edge of what must be this elongated hole ,say 1.5 ml gap right at the edge of the shoe,I guess there should be more of the hole in the adjuster exposed,its difficult without a pic of the adjuster to determind how to move the critter.

But thanks Kryten,think I will strip the shoes out to get a better look at the adjuster.

As I say there is usually a right way to do these jobs and thats usually the way that saves alot of grief.

Kind Regards Mark

[stoutgoose]

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Before you do that try removing the drums and with the aid of a beautiful assitant on the brake pedal, ever so gently press the pedal until you see the shoes expand and hear the adjuster ratchet click.

Then try a refit on the drum. If it's still loose, then repeat until you get a light rub between drum and shoe.

It's very important to brief the beautiful assistant with regard to not stamping on the brake pedal, but ticklingit instead in order to avoidsending shoes, brake fluid and slave cylinder internals all over your work-shop floor!

[Andy Rundell]

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Mark,

The adjuster is fitted to the back of one of the brake shoes, you slacken it off, as Russ has mentioned, by placing a flat-bladed screwdriver through the large hole in the front of the drum.

If you have not seen it before the adjuster is circled in red in this picture (taken from another thread on this forum) and is directly behind the spring. I agree that the first time you try and do this it isn't clear because you don't know exactly what is inside. All you need to do is twist against the adjuster slightly to part the serated teeth which loosens things off.

hope this helps.......

[redstag]

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That brings back some bad memories

Pete

[Andy Rundell]

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redstag wrote:

That brings back some bad memories

Pete

Sorry Pete, didn't mean to rake up the memories!

[maverick]

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Thanks Andy,It was a close up pic/drawing of the adjuster I was looking for apparently there is a hole in the adjuster Kryten says you can use to twist upwards,but as mentioned on my setup I can only just see the edge of this hole.

But as always I greatly appreciate the enthusiatic help of posters,



Many thanks to all,

Mark

[Andy Rundell]

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maverick wrote:

Thanks Andy,It was a close up pic/drawing of the adjuster I was looking for apparently there is a hole in the adjuster Kryten says you can use to twist upwards,but as mentioned on my setup I can only just see the edge of this hole.

If it is the adjuster only you wanted a picture of this should do the trick, courtesy of Peter H at LDPart:

http://www.ldparts.co.uk/shop/shop.p...0e5a300ca6e577

It is the large cut out in the middle of the adjusters which you get the screwdriver to lever on

cheers .....Andy

[Kevin Garrod]

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When I read thread like this I get a little concerned either I'm really lucky or everyone else isn't! When I replaced my wheel cylinders recently I had to mess around with the adjusters ( I replaced the cylinders with everything else in situ)

I removed the drum, pushed the shoes out fully to get access for the cylinder, lifted the self-adjuster thingy and pushed the shoes back as far as they would go. When everything was back in place a few pumps on the brake pedal was all it took to get the self-adjusters to do there stuff. Job done

[maverick]

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Hi Kevin,dont think that you are lucky ,just had more practice !

Like most jobs once you know how its a doddle,my prob was that I could not eyeball the hole in the adjuster to get a lever in,as you say there is a fair bit of movement in the shoes in situ.

May I ask is there an eay way to replace cyinders,as think 1 of mine is weeping(like my wallet).

Did you fully bleed the system,or is there a easier way.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Regards Mark

[maverick]

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Andy Rundell wrote:

maverick wrote:

Thanks Andy,It was a close up pic/drawing of the adjuster I was looking for apparently there is a hole in the adjuster Kryten says you can use to twist upwards,but as mentioned on my setup I can only just see the edge of this hole.

If it is the adjuster only you wanted a picture of this should do the trick, courtesy of Peter H at LDPart:

http://www.ldparts.co.uk/shop/shop.p...0e5a300ca6e577

It is the large cut out in the middle of the adjusters which you get the screwdriver to lever on

cheers .....Andy

Thanks very much Andy for taking the time,its helpful,now I can see the cut out,next time will drag shoe out of way to see this,was cautious has had not done before and was worried would not be able to get drum back on.

Much clearer now,whats dissappointing is sometimes how inadequate the ROMs are.

Kind Regards Mark

[Kevin Garrod]

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maverick wrote:

Hi Kevin,dont think that you are lucky ,just had more practice !

Like most jobs once you know how its a doddle,my prob was that I could not eyeball the hole in the adjuster to get a lever in,as you say there is a fair bit of movement in the shoes in situ.

May I ask is there an eay way to replace cyinders,as think 1 of mine is weeping(like my wallet).

Did you fully bleed the system,or is there a easier way.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Regards Mark

I'd not done a Stag one before, but I have changed brake shoes loads of times before.

I only had to bleed the rear brakes, but I had only recently replaced the master cylinder. If you are unsure of the age of the fluid in your system or if it's more than a couple of years, bleed the whole system.

Do a search for more info, and this thread might be helpful..

http://stagownersclub.mywowbb.com/forum1/99.html

[maverick]

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Ta Kevin,thats just made me laugh ,because,I did read the thread originally,and your socket solution appealled to me so Id saved this to my Stag info folder for future ref !

Thanks again