Rear brake adjustment

[J Franklin]

You will need to work with a helper pushing the brake pedal while you watch the action of the linkage and brake shoes. Did you forget a clevis pin?

[Mad Mac]

Reply to J Franklin: - No I didn't forget a clevis pin - they are all there.

Reply to Jim/GA: - Thanks, I will check whether any of the clevises need adjusting.

Regardless of all your helpful comments, I am still left with the inescapable fact that the drum starts to heat up before there is any braking action. How can that possibly occur?

I have followed Les Andrews' recommendations all the way.

[Mad Mac]

On further reflection, I guess there is one way that it could possibly occur: The adjuster wedge is turned in sufficiently for the newly-lined shoes to contact the drum and generate heat, but the clevis adjustment suits the action of the old brake linings, which might delay the braking action. Comment?

[Jim/GA]

Originally Posted by Mad Mac

On further reflection, I guess there is one way that it could possibly occur: The adjuster wedge is turned in sufficiently for the newly-lined shoes to contact the drum and generate heat, but the clevis adjustment suits the action of the old brake linings, which might delay the braking action. Comment?

That is what it sounds like to me.

Many people will really bang the table "do not adjust the brake rod lengths" but I have found that sometimes that is what you need to get the 4 wheels braking the same amount without having the lining drag when the brakes are not applied.

Having said that, I have always replaced both left and right shoes/linings on an axle at the same time, never just one wheel. You may be making it harder on yourself than it needs to be.

[Mad Mac]

Originally Posted by Jim/GA

Having said that, I have always replaced both left and right shoes/linings on an axle at the same time, never just one wheel. You may be making it harder on yourself than it needs to be.

Thanks Jim:
The reason I replaced the linings on one wheel only, was because the lining on that wheel got covered in grease. I think I must not have used high temp grease when I did it a few years ago. I used high-temp grease this time.

[Mad Mac]

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Originally Posted by Jim/GA

That is what it sounds like to me.

Many people will really bang the table "do not adjust the brake rod lengths" but I have found that sometimes that is what you need to get the 4 wheels braking the same amount without having the lining drag when the brakes are not applied. Having said that, I have always replaced both left and right shoes/linings on an axle at the same time, never just one wheel. You may be making it harder on yourself than it needs to be.

Acting on Jim's advice, I have now tried adjusting the clevis on the brake rod. Unfortunately there is not enough adjustment available before the threaded rod bottoms inside the clevis. Even after tightening the clevis up to its fullest extent, the shoes don’t expand fully onto the drum, so there is still no braking action. This is very strange, as the re-lined shoes must be thicker than the old shoes which used less of the available clevis adjustment. I must be almost there, because pulling the service brake lever slightly forward stops the wheel when rotated by hand.