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ptspringer
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2006
Posts: 93
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 Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 4:18 am Post subject: How to adjust the brake stars on a 4 lug drum? |
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I'm used to my 66 bug, but now have a 69 convertible also. The 66 has a 5 lug wheel/drum with a really nice inspection hole that can be used to tighten the stars when the brakes need adjusting. The 69, however, has no hole to adjust the brakes. Do you really have to remove the wheels & drums to adjust the brakes, or is there a secret to it that I don't know yet???
Paul |
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Stuart Maingot
Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2009
Posts: 240
Location: Trinidad West Indies
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 4:31 am Post subject: |
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| There are holes in the backing plate that allow adjustment of the stars. You will need to get under the car to access them if you are not removing the wheels. A real pia compared to the earlier models as you described. |
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67jason
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2005
Posts: 4741
Location: behind my back feet - Pittsburg CA
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 4:33 am Post subject: |
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access the brake adjuster from the back side of the backing plate from under the car.
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67 bug x3
67 ghia
64 bug |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33414
Location: Hot Arizona
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ptspringer
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2006
Posts: 93
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you all!
Should have thought to look behind the wheel, although I'm not especially fond of the spiders that tend to live there. |
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OLD VW NUT
Samba Member
Joined: February 23, 2011
Posts: 2776
Location: High Desert of Washington 98823
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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Drive it more. Spiders hate high winds - artificial or natural.
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71 Ghia Coupe - stock body - no rust! Powered by a 2110 W/Dual HPMX 44's - Rancho Pro Street Transaxle - A/C by Gilmore
Other car - 2013 VW Golf TDI |
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Joey
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Joined: August 12, 2005
Posts: 5376
Location: Nova Scotia - Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 8:27 am Post subject: |
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On both my '74 bus and '79 bus I just drilled a 1/2" hole in the drum. I use to do it from the back but I found if the adjusting stars stick the backing plate just bends.
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Joey
‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle |
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Eric&Barb
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Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 26230
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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theKbStockpiler
Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Rust Belt
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:42 am Post subject: |
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-Go to Harbor Freight and get a cheap set of alen keys that are on a keyring.
-Pick the biggest one that will still fit in the hole.
-Grind a flat blade screwdriver end on the short end the same way adjusting spoons are.
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My beetle is not competing with your beetle. I have the yellow beetle in my town. There is a red one, a green one ......
Use all safety devices including a mask. |
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 26230
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 10:04 am Post subject: |
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| Joey wrote: |
| On both my '74 bus and '79 bus I just drilled a 1/2" hole in the drum. I use to do it from the back but I found if the adjusting stars stick the backing plate just bends. |
Need more anti-seize to help with that. If adjusting star is that stuck hit with hammer and flat punch the bolt head of the adjuster to help unstick the threads and get it moving.
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In Stereo, Where Available! |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33414
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 11:48 am Post subject: |
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| Eric&Barb wrote: |
| Need more anti-seize to help with that. If adjusting star is that stuck hit with hammer and flat punch the bolt head of the adjuster to help unstick the threads and get it moving. |
This.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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