TheSamba.com :: View topic - How much adjustment do drum brakes need? Star clicks etc…

Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:04 pm

Regarding drum brake adjustments, how many star clicks do you usually see between adjustments? I have about 12k miles on my bus since acquiring it, and both times I have adjusted my stars, I went tighter (3 or 4 clicks per adjuster today AND last time I did it) until I felt a drag. From there, Bentley et. al. recommend 3-4 clicks back to allow adequate clearance. I followed the procedure to the letter, and centered my shoes using a full press of the pedal between each wheel. Allowing the 3 clicks of clearance puts me just about back where I started today, AND last time I checked my adjusters. One wheel cylinder today needed one click tighter, and two last time each needed one click tighter.

I know I drive cautiously and driving style has a LOT to do with wear and tear of these parts, but I'm curious: About how many clicks do you guys give your brake drum star adjusters each time you adjust? (Which is every 6k miles, right? 8) ) I'm not asking you to count, but does this happen to anyone else?

Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:12 pm

well, the real answer is how ever many it takes. when i do a new set of shoes, i use this

http://www.diseno-art.com/products/tools/brake_shoe_adjustment_gauge.html

gets things real close. pump brakes and adjust as needed. i run with a very slight amount of drag. i usually give them 1 click when i have it in for an oil change. i always do a check and adjust of whatever while it's on the lift

Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:06 pm

usually, i just adjust until you cant tighten any further, step on the brakes hard a couple times, pull the ebrake and step on brakes etc....basically push as much as i can to seat shoes, then back off each adjuster one or two clicks each until the wheel starts to move again, then tighten until it JUST barely drags, then leave it. repeat on the other side.

the ebrake are should pull out about 5 clicks or so when your all done with the back ones. front, if you step on the brakes, should not pull at all, should track straight when pressing on the brakes hard.

Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:08 pm

I had a SLIGHT pull to the right today, which reminded me to check my maintenance log, and it had been a tad over 6k. One click on the front left and it tracks perfect while braking.

My hand brake cables are maxed out, and engage at 8 clicks. It's the upper limit, and new cables will be here eventually…

Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:14 pm

asiab3 wrote: I had a SLIGHT pull to the right today, which reminded me to check my maintenance log, and it had been a tad over 6k. One click on the front left and it tracks perfect while braking.

My hand brake cables are maxed out, and engage at 8 clicks. It's the upper limit, and new cables will be here eventually…

how tight are the back brakes?

Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:15 pm

Stuartzickefoose wrote: asiab3 wrote: I had a SLIGHT pull to the right today, which reminded me to check my maintenance log, and it had been a tad over 6k. One click on the front left and it tracks perfect while braking.

My hand brake cables are maxed out, and engage at 8 clicks. It's the upper limit, and new cables will be here eventually…

how tight are the back brakes?

Three star clicks away from dragging. Which is Bentley spec. The parking brake engages at 8 clicks.

By 'engages' I mean the braking action is noticeable off the ground at 8 clicks instead of the recommended six in 10.1 - Parking Brake. Pick your battles………

Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:21 pm

asiab3 wrote: Stuartzickefoose wrote: asiab3 wrote: I had a SLIGHT pull to the right today, which reminded me to check my maintenance log, and it had been a tad over 6k. One click on the front left and it tracks perfect while braking.

My hand brake cables are maxed out, and engage at 8 clicks. It's the upper limit, and new cables will be here eventually…

how tight are the back brakes?

Three star clicks away from dragging. Which is Bentley spec. The parking brake engages at 8 clicks.

By 'engages' I mean the braking action is noticeable off the ground at 8 clicks instead of the recommended six in 10.1 - Parking Brake. Pick your battles………

tighten it a click or two and test it out. they should JUST barely drag on the wheel. 3 clicks sounds kinda loose to me.

Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:26 pm

Stuartzickefoose wrote:
tighten it a click or two and test it out. they should JUST barely drag on the wheel. 3 clicks sounds kinda loose to me.

It, meaning the parking brake or the brake stars?

3-4 clicks off of "slight drag" of the stars is what the factory published… The OP will keep it there. :wink:

Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:31 pm

asiab3 wrote: Stuartzickefoose wrote:
tighten it a click or two and test it out. they should JUST barely drag on the wheel. 3 clicks sounds kinda loose to me.

It, meaning the parking brake or the brake stars?

3-4 clicks off of "slight drag" of the stars is what the factory published… The OP will keep it there. :wink:

stars. i usually dont ever touch the cables till the brakes are perfect. as in if i did new shoes, or something. or if a cable broke. (its happened...)

i like mine as tight as reasonably possible, but for me its more of a feel than a spec. to each his own. :)

Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:37 pm

Do it by feel, they said. It would be fun, they said:

:wink:

Tue Apr 09, 2013 3:05 am

asiab3 wrote: Stuartzickefoose wrote:
tighten it a click or two and test it out. they should JUST barely drag on the wheel. 3 clicks sounds kinda loose to me.

It, meaning the parking brake or the brake stars?

3-4 clicks off of "slight drag" of the stars is what the factory published… The OP will keep it there. :wink:

3-4 notches off of dead tight would be close to being right, maybe a click to the loose side, 3-4 notches off of a slight drag would probably be too loose, especially if the drum isn't perfectly round anymore.

I like to set them tight and then check how hot the brakes are after several of miles of driving on level road where I haven't needed to use the brakes much. If adjusted right the brakes should not be particularly hot and none should be way hotter than the others.