Drum Brake Question - spring for star adjuster

[tjettom]

While wire brushing my rear brake backing plate prepairing it for painting, one of the spring steel star wheel engagers (for lack of proper terms) fell off.
I've never encountered or read of this situation that I can recall. I am asking for experienced opinions what should I do now. BIG THANKS to Samba and greatful for the knowledgeable members advise. I had previously thought I knew everything about drum brakes till this situation happened.Without the spring pressure on the star wheel wouldn't the adjuster be unable to stay in adjustment? A new backing plate is costly considering the old one is fine other than the broken spring. Thanks again....Tom

[Cusser]

You get those adjuster retainers separately (not sure where), and drill a small hole and attach with a screw.
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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

[tjettom]

Thanks for the reply Cusser. Are those adjuster retainers VW specific? I was thinking all American type cars I had worked on had the screw on retainers but these on my 71 beetle were welded on underneath the adjuster block. even with a replacement retainer,it would be a challenge to drill and tap a hole underneath the adjuster block because the block is welded on to the backing plate....??? Makes me wanna cuss!

[tjettom]

After further investigation I see where the brake star adjuster spring is pressed into a groove and it looks to be replaceable. I used a small vice grip and hammer and knocked out the remaining one side of the original spring. It does look as though a new one could probably be installed easily if I could only locate one. A new adjuster spring keeper would have to be considerably cheaper than having a new $80 backing plate shipped. ANYBODY have one for sale or know where one can be purchased,I'd be very thankful....Thanks,Tom

[nlorntson]

Get one here:

https://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC-211-609-185-A

[Glenn73]

Or get them here
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=211609185a
And they are only crimped in place originally.
_________________
1973 Super Sat from 93-2008
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=
1986 Vanagon thread Sat from 2005-2017 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=719692

VW Transporter production film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rceTqDtGgz8

[tjettom]

WOW....That's GREAT! THANKS! I was hoping one would be available some where. I looked several places without finding one so I knew the next best source was the Samba site and the members. They are the greatest and mostly the reason I know what I do concerning my VW....Thanks again, Tom

[tjettom]

Ordered the (brake) adjuster springs. Now one question...One catalog said they had to weld in while another never said...I'm wondering...won't they slide/press in as the originals did? Thanks in advance if you have an answer.
Tom

[tjettom]

It's hard to beleive I'm the only one who has the need to replace one of these brake adjuster springs. I'm assuming since they sell them as a replacement repair part that somebody has some experence replacing one.
Since the original isn't welded is it possible to replace one without welding.
The reason I ask is I don't have a welder. Thanks,Tom

[veeweeman]

[tjettom]

Thanks,... but I've read the previous post several times and still don't understand what it says exactly.....

[Glenn73]

The spring is crimped in place on both sides right in the middle. All you have to do is slide it out with some hammer force to get the old one out.
Then very lightly notch the new spring on one side only so you can pop it into place. Then take a center punch and lock it in place on the star adjuster mount just at the edge next to the spring on the side you notched.
_________________
1973 Super Sat from 93-2008
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=
1986 Vanagon thread Sat from 2005-2017 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=719692

VW Transporter production film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rceTqDtGgz8

[tjettom]

The old one has already been removed. Are you saying the new replacement spring is too wide to fit into the existing space that the original came out of? So you say to notch (I assume you mean to grind) the width of the new replacement spring...and then are you saying to use a punch to peen the edge of the notch to swedge it in the grove in order to hold it from falling out? Maybe I'm confused at the explanations given?

[poptop]

So what about the fronts? 72 super beetle but all say not super beetle.I
Made a crappy replacement out of spring steel that kept cracking but in the end after 7 different attempts i mangaged to wedge it in and make it work, i onky needed half so wasnt to bad
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So what I drive the short bus!

[Phillip3560]

[Volcrew]

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1975 FI T1 Cliff Grün L61A

[runamoc]

[Volcrew]

[TK-CS]

Perhaps it is possible to see through the adjusting holes.
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'71 1600LE (Type 3 Notchback FI/AT) Sunroof
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'91 Corrado G60
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[runamoc]