\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Repairs covered by 12-month/12,000-mile warranty. To loosen the brakes, you need to turn the star wheel downward at the slot. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. It's also a good idea to mic" the drum: Check its diameter with aninside micrometer. The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. If the brakes feel more even and responsive when you press down on the pedal, the self adjuster is working and you dont need to manually adjust the brakes. Lower the hand lever to relax the cable. Some assembly required. Repeat the same process for the other rear side of the wheel. "How Drum Brakes Work" Don't forget to make sure the parking brake is effective. This is done through the brake adjustment hole in the drum or on the backing plate using a brake adjuster tool to turn the adjuster to loosen the brakes enough to remove the drum. expert reply by: Mike L. get under the car at the back, just at the rear side of the axle housing. A hammer can usually break the drum free from the hub. my car wouldn't start after sitting in garage for a year and I found this company online and just tried it and am so happy I did, Frank came over, and explained what was wrong and checked everything out and was very professional and smart. To confirm your brakes are in good working order before you adjust them, check your vehicle for symptoms of a bad or failing drum brake. Turn the bolt on the cable clamp counterclockwise and slide the arm up as far as you can, then back down a little bit, and lock the bolt in place (4 mm Allen . The adjuster screw is large and slotted, and is located beneath just beneath the centerline that runs horizontally across the back of the drum. Reply Like. For the price, it's worth the . Remove the wheel and tap the calipers with a rubber mallet. Most manufacturers recommend an average of five to six clicks for a fully engaged parking brake. Then, turn the drum a few times to check for drag. The adjuster is typically located below the brake drum. Some GM products, however, will have it above the axle, and some imports/front-drive vehicles will place it on the brake drum itself. Turn the brake drum so that the access hole is aligned with the drum's adjuster screw. These drum brake systems need adjustment, too, and in fact a parking brake that is too far out of adjustment can fail a state vehicle inspection. Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. It does not store any personal data. To adjust it out a little bit, I'm just going to slide this down. This article covers the adjustment process for drum brakes of the star wheel type. Typically it should take six to 10 clicks of the pedal or lever to set the brake, and the resistance of the pedal or lever should increase the further it is moved. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". This sounds like you may have a short in the wiring that goes to the brake light switch. Your mileage may vary. To do so, you must first remove the drums. You will find the star-shaped adjuster on the rear brake drum. You can get one at you local parts store shouldn't be more than a few dollars. Once the tire can spin with a little drag (not freely or forcefully), you need to do the same on the other wheel. Videos you watch may be added to the TVs watch history and influence TV recommendations. Remove the adjuster spring and the shoe guide. If you ratchet them down too far you're screwed. How to remove a stuck on brake drum. Drum brakes are sometimes found on the rear wheels of entry-level cars for cost savings, and in classic cars. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Keep turning the adjuster until there is a slight drag on the brakes. If this is the case, you may be able to diagnose the problem by opening the rear wheel bleed valve. Once the rotor is off, check the condition of the inner rotor parking brake pad surface. If you dont, the brake pedal will have to be pushed down too far before the brakes engage. Locate the jacking spot close to the rear wheels and place a jack to lift up one side of the vehicle from the ground. Once you have the brakes apart. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Keep in mind that not all drum brakes are adjustable. The drums are attached to the axle via bolts. One reason could be a defective wheel cylinder, which is part of the brake system. Theres no denying itthis is a tricky maneuver, which is why its best not to over-tighten the brake in the first place. A lever adjusts inside the brake system adjust the wheel a little bit anytime you back off. Put the vehicle in reverse, drive backwards, and stop abruptly several times. It is important to note that the most drum brake adjustment direction is clockwise. In most vehicles, the right place to turn the adjuster is clockwise while few others are designed to work anti-clockwise. The process is easy and can be performed with most conventional single-cylinder drums. Brake adjustment on the Mini is accomplished with a 5/16 wrench instead of a brake spoon. Do not hit the rim of the drum where it meets the backing plate.