brake adjusters

[guy]

My rear brake self adjusting mechanism does not work. Everything is operable and looks OK, however I can't seem to figure out what the problem is. Help?!?!?!

Guy

79 J20
All stock

[Gladi8r]

I know this sounds stupid, but make sure that the little star wheel on the adjusting screw is in line with the adjusting tab. If you got the screw in backwards the star wheel will not line up properly. I have done this myself in the past when hurrying to get things done. http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/smile.gif

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DON

1988 GW mostly stock, <---Wifey's truck (won't let me "fix it up")

1971 J-4000,Rhino Grille(to be installed)
360 CID 8.5/1 ratio 2v, 245 HP, 365 ft/lb
T-18A, Dana 20, PTO, DANA 44 (Front/Rear)
Soon to be torn down for Resto
71 Gladiator Pics (http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/gladi8r1971?d&.flabel=fld2&.src=bc)

78 GW (parts truck)
360 4v Th400
Dana 44 F/R
http://www.j-trucks.freeservers.com/
78 Wagoneer Pics (http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/gladi8r1971?d&.flabel=fld3&.src=bc)

[ClarkGriswald]

In addition to putting them in backwards is the actually stiffness with which they seem to turn.. I usually goop em up with antisieze compound (in the threads) or they just freeze right up and are inoperable within no time (i live in MI)

Even when in perfect condition these self adjusters are marginal at best at really working.

Also when ya put on new shoes and get it all together you need to adjust them yourself until the brakes are almost engaged when just sitting there (sometimes you have to pull the drum back off and hold the adjuster arm out of the way to turn them the other way if you go to far.. (there is a hole in the backing plate usually with a plastic or rubber plug in it that you can reach in there with a screwdriver and adjust them manually.. If you get them setup right in this way to where when the brakes are applied they start to work fairly quickly and evenly rather than having to move the linkage a lot to touch the drum, then the adjusters seem to work ok.

[BIGYELLOW78J10]

You might want to replace the adjusters. They are very cheap and you should be able to get them at most any of the big Autoparts stores. Make sure you get a left and right piece as one turns clockwie and the other counterclockwise. A little bit or rust might cause one to bind enough not to work. Also, as said before, it is really easy to put a part in backwards, or for the parts to slip out of alignment before you get the last spring back on, so check it all over and try to make the parts move and adjust by hand and make sure it all makes sense. Hope it helps.

Daniel

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78 J-10 Rumblin Wreck (http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gte644i/TRUCK.jpg)
2v 360 V-8
Stock down to the rust
Highway speed in about an Hour

[Shane]

Another note is that the adjusters work when the vehicle is moving backwards and we often don't drive fast enough or brake hard enough in reverse to get them to adjust the brakes. It is best to set them up manually when servicing your rig.

Shane

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1982 J10 Model 25 Pioneer
My Daily driver since 1988
D44,258(.030" over),T5,NP208,AMC20