\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Then, you can now adjust the star adjustment wheel. Removing the brake drums with the parking brake on can change the adjustment or make it difficult to remove the brake drum. Turn the clip until the hole in the clip matches the flat end of the pin to release the clip. As an added safety measure, once you remove the tires, lay one of them on its side and slide it under the center rear of the vehicles frame. If the drag is too much, the brake wont work properly. Yes, you can just use a flat-head screwdriver instead. Put the vehicle in reverse, drive backwards, and stop abruptly several times. For many years, disc brakes have been used at the front of the vehicles while drum brakes are used at the rear. This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Tighten the lug nuts most of the way, but not completely tight. This should free the drum if it is just rusted on. The rear drum brakes are designed to self adjust as you back up and apply the brakes while moving in reverse. For example, you may be using a square-ended rod or a wedge-style lever with an octagonal end. Void where prohibited. Turn the brake drum so that the access hole is aligned with the drum's adjuster screw. Mine looks like this. How to Replace Slack Adjuster on Semi Truck? wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Locate the access hole on the outside of the brake drum. Most vehicles today have front disc brakes along with rear drum brakes that are supposed tobut sometimes dontautomatically adjust as the brake shoes wear down. Having bad rear drums will make a vehicle stop more slowly and make it harder to maneuver. The first thing you should do to check your rear drum brakes is to unbolt the wheel. Attached to the axle sleeve. Turn the adjuster screw to loosen the shoes. Two screwdrivers are needed, insert the first screwdriver into the hole, push back the lock. As the car is moving in reverse and you step on the brakes, the shoes expand. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". How do I release the foot-operated parking brake? How to Change Rear Drum Brakes on Ford F150? If there is deep scoring or grooving, the rotor will need to be replaced. Toyota Corolla - Adjust Drum Brakes - Lutz, Florida. If you ratchet them down too far you're screwed. This is accessible through a small slot on the inside of the wheel hub. A malfunctioning brake may even cause the rear wheels to lock up. You will find the star-shaped adjuster on the rear brake drum. Note the clevis pin's location on the tape. Step 2. To do so, you must first remove the drums. Make sure to torque the wheels according to the manufacturer's specifications. Confirm everything is well positioned and intact. The thin metal allows a lot of flex. Excessive heating can happen due to heavy braking, which then can cause the drum to distort, and thus cause vibration under braking. 5 How do you adjust the spring on a drum brake? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Moving the teeth downward will contract the brake shoes. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Remove the rear tires. The Adjuster helps prevent the brake shoes from rubbing the drum during braking. So, if youre asking how to tell if drum brakes need adjusting, watch out for these; At this juncture, youve seen that brake drums last long. The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Adjust Drum Brakes. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Using a brake spoon, brake adjustment tool or flathead screwdriver, turn the star wheel adjuster inside the brake chamber. Pull both wheels and tires off the lug studs. If you are getting squealing only when you push on the brakes Hello. Turn the adjuster screw counterclockwise until it comes to a halt. Under hard braking, the diameter of the drum increases slightly due to thermal expansion, the driver must press the brake pedal farther. Drum brakes were popular during the early years of the automobile. Pro Tips for Adjusting the Drum Brake on Your Trailer. Set the position of the outer brake pad using the cable clamp. A hammer can usually break the drum free from the hub. Christopher Osborne has been a wikiHow Content Creator since 2015. Osuagwu Solomon is a certified mechanic with over a decade of experience in the mechanic garage, and he has over five years of experience in the writing industry. You can also adjust the star wheel to collapse the shoes farther in. It also contains retaining springs that keep the shoes snug but not rigid inside the assembly. You should notice some slight noise as the drum moves. Also, it causes serious injury to you or an assistant. For the price, it's worth the . Some assembly required. Turn the adjuster screw to loosen the shoes. Put the wheels back onto the car. Suspension, Steering, Brake & Wheel Topics. Adjustments can be done only on brakes that are in good shape. Leave the jack in place as a safety measure to provide extra support for your vehicle. Most disc/drum combos use the parking brake to adjust the shoes to the drum. However, if you dont apply the emergency brake for a long time, the automatic adjuster would not adjust. JavaScript is disabled. What is the Proper Adjustment For Drum Brakes? Keep in mind that not all drum brakes are adjustable. Turn the brake drum so that the access hole is aligned with the drums adjuster screw.