drum brake/self adjuster questions and problems

[hotrod53]

I have a 10 bolt rear in my hotrod out of a '75 Monte Carlo with a 9.5" drum. Recently I have been replacing and freshening my brakes and associated hardware. I noticed that the self adjuster arms are above the star wheel and not touching it. I have already replaced one drum, the shoes, and all of the brake springs. Not realizing that there was a seperate self adjuster kit, I ordered and am waiting for the other springs and arms. The J hook looking rods that connect to the adjusters look severely rusted anyway so replacement is in order. What I don't get is the fact that there is a spring on the bottom of the adjuster arm that keeps them as far away from the start wheel as possible. I would think that it would touch the star wheel and not be above it??

Is it a problem that the arm doesn't touch the start wheel? Will it not touching allow the brakes to loosen? My backing plates don't have any adjuster holes, was there ever a model that you had to punch these out?

This all started since my front was squeeling, I had already replaced the pads twice and the rotors once. I had also refit the pads to make them tight in the caliper. I don't have a lot of pedal so I want to make the best of what I have, you know how street rods are, everything is an experiment.

[nailhead425]

Originally Posted by hotrod53

I have a 10 bolt rear in my hotrod out of a '75 Monte Carlo with a 9.5" drum. Recently I have been replacing and freshening my brakes and associated hardware. I noticed that the self adjuster arms are above the star wheel and not touching it. I have already replaced one drum, the shoes, and all of the brake springs. Not realizing that there was a seperate self adjuster kit, I ordered and am waiting for the other springs and arms. The J hook looking rods that connect to the adjusters look severely rusted anyway so replacement is in order. What I don't get is the fact that there is a spring on the bottom of the adjuster arm that keeps them as far away from the start wheel as possible. I would think that it would touch the star wheel and not be above it??

Is it a problem that the arm doesn't touch the start wheel? Will it not touching allow the brakes to loosen? My backing plates don't have any adjuster holes, was there ever a model that you had to punch these out?

This all started since my front was squeeling, I had already replaced the pads twice and the rotors once. I had also refit the pads to make them tight in the caliper. I don't have a lot of pedal so I want to make the best of what I have, you know how street rods are, everything is an experiment.

The spring from the arm to the drum is on backwards.
It should pull the arm against the star wheel.
If it doesn't touch they won't self-adjust when you back-up.
No adjusting holes, really? Or is the plug just covered? NAPA sells the rubber plugs, if you're backing plates really don't have adjuster slots (are they on the wrong side and therefore upside down?) drill and slot them.

[hotrod53]

I solved the issue of the adjusting hole, the backplate was punched but not broken out. I hit it with an air chissel and it popped right out, now I can cover it with the rubber plug.

What you are saying about the adjuster arm makes sense but where does the spring go? The arm has a little foot that hits against the inside of the shoe frame, the spring is currently around that foot and it holds the arm up. If the spring goes elsewhere can you describe where?

[nailhead425]

Originally Posted by hotrod53

What you are saying about the adjuster arm makes sense but where does the spring go? The arm has a little foot that hits against the inside of the shoe frame, the spring is currently around that foot and it holds the arm up. If the spring goes elsewhere can you describe where?

From the shoe to the arm. There should be a hole in the arm. The spring should pull the arm against the star wheel.

[hotrod53]

I guess I'm just not getting it.... here is a diagram of what I have. The "return spring" under the adjuster arm is what I'm looking at. That spring pushes the adjuster arm up as high as it will go only limited by the adjusting link. The only difference that I see is the direction, maybe it's just the way the diagram was posted, if you take this image and rotate it 180 degrees it looks like mine. I'm looking at the left rear brake, the E brake arm attaches to the rear shoe and the strut arm spring faces front. I'm assuming that is the case since they show the secondary shoe in front. It's been quite a while since I worked on one of these, maybe I'm all backwards?