GMCforum
For enthusiast of the Classic GMC Motorhome built from 1973 to 1978. A web-based mirror of the GMCnet mailing list.
Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » How I adjust rear drum brakes
How I adjust rear drum brakes [message #209319] Thu, 30 May 2013 16:17 Go to next message
C Boyd is currently offline  C Boyd   United States
Messages: 2629
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
Senior Member
I just did mine so thought I would share. Properly adjusted and balanced rear brakes are a must. I adjust brakes the way I was taught for the old big trucks. Tighten adjuster all the way (up) hard, this centers the shoes in the drum. Loosen the shoe (down) till the drum rings tapping it with the adjuster tool, no contact. Then tighten 1 (up) click at a time till the drum rings everywhere except one little "thunk" spot. They will be one. The wheel will roll free and the brakes are right there.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/misc.php?action=orderphotos&s=&cat=6385

C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee

Report message to a moderator

Re: How I adjust rear drum brakes [message #209322 is a reply to message #209319] Thu, 30 May 2013 16:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C Boyd is currently offline  C Boyd   United States
Messages: 2629
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
Senior Member
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6385-how-i-adjust-brakes.html
dont know how that happened



C Boyd wrote on Thu, 30 May 2013 17:17

I just did mine so thought I would share. Properly adjusted and balanced rear brakes are a must. I adjust brakes the way I was taught for the old big trucks. Tighten adjuster all the way (up) hard, this centers the shoes in the drum. Loosen the shoe (down) till the drum rings tapping it with the adjuster tool, no contact. Then tighten 1 (up) click at a time till the drum rings everywhere except one little "thunk" spot. They will be one. The wheel will roll free and the brakes are right there.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/misc.php?action=orderphotos&s=&cat=6385

C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee

Report message to a moderator

Re: How I adjust rear drum brakes [message #209323 is a reply to message #209322] Thu, 30 May 2013 16:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
Senior Member
If that is your GMC that you are adjusting in the pictures, what are your observations of the drum brake reaction arm performance?

Report message to a moderator

Re: How I adjust rear drum brakes [message #209326 is a reply to message #209323] Thu, 30 May 2013 17:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C Boyd is currently offline  C Boyd   United States
Messages: 2629
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
Senior Member
Sir: Its kinda limited to a couple trips around the big block and local parking lot testing. It did take a few good hard stops to get everstuff bedden in and brakeing got better with each stop. Now Braking effort is easier and stopping distance shorter. As Matt said "carlike". So far I`m impressed and will let you know more when I get back from Hamilton rally. Hope to leave in the morning. Tom Pryor loaned me his tool he had at Bean Station to drill the rear spindles for a grease fitting in the end. With my front zerts I can now repack all wheel bearings without removing the wheels. I did notice after hand packing the wheel bgs and installing, then filling thru the grease fitting the bgs got quieter. Valvoline molly blend. Thanks Tom.



A Hamilto wrote on Thu, 30 May 2013 17:36

If that is your GMC that you are adjusting in the pictures, what are your observations of the drum brake reaction arm performance?

C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee

Report message to a moderator

Re: How I adjust rear drum brakes [message #209333 is a reply to message #209326] Thu, 30 May 2013 19:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
C Boyd wrote on Thu, 30 May 2013 18:31

Sir: Its kinda limited to a couple trips around the big block and local parking lot testing. It did take a few good hard stops to get everstuff bedden in and brakeing got better with each stop. Now Braking effort is easier and stopping distance shorter. As Matt said "carlike". So far I`m impressed and will let you know more when I get back from Hamilton rally. Hope to leave in the morning. Tom Pryor loaned me his tool he had at Bean Station to drill the rear spindles for a grease fitting in the end. With my front zerts I can now repack all wheel bearings without removing the wheels. I did notice after hand packing the wheel bgs and installing, then filling thru the grease fitting the bgs got quieter. Valvoline molly blend. Thanks Tom.

Chuck,

Interesting, Isn't It?
Somehow I think we are going to be doing a little bench racing tomorrow.

Matt - Ready to cast off with the morning tide

Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

Report message to a moderator

Re: How I adjust rear drum brakes [message #209351 is a reply to message #209333] Thu, 30 May 2013 21:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C Boyd is currently offline  C Boyd   United States
Messages: 2629
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
Senior Member
Matt: I`m looking forward to it.



Interesting, Isn't It?
Somehow I think we are going to be doing a little bench racing tomorrow.

Matt - Ready to cast off with the morning tide
[/quote]

C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee

Report message to a moderator

Re: [GMCnet] How I adjust rear drum brakes [message #209379 is a reply to message #209323] Fri, 31 May 2013 01:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mickeysss is currently offline  mickeysss   United States
Messages: 1476
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member

which way do you turn the wheel inside to adjust the brakes tighter. up or down and are they the same on both sides.

to tighten the brakes by expanding the brake shoes out from the center of the brake drum. It is easy to do it the wrong way and loosen them and spend all day trying to figure it out. thank you !

mickey :-) anaheim ca. 77palm beach home of dry ice bombs today in disneyland on the news.


On May 30, 2013, at 2:36 PM, A. wrote:

>
>
> If that is your GMC that you are adjusting in the pictures, what are your observations of the drum brake reaction arm performance?
> --
> '73 23' Sequoia For Camping
> '73 23' CanyonLands For Sale
> UA (Upper Alabama)
> "Time is money. If you use YOUR time, you get to keep YOUR money."
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Report message to a moderator

Re: [GMCnet] How I adjust rear drum brakes [message #209380 is a reply to message #209379] Fri, 31 May 2013 03:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jtblank is currently offline  jtblank   United States
Messages: 237
Registered: June 2007
Location: Tulare, CA
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Up is tight
down is loose

Just remember uptight or down and loose.

The same on both sides

John Blankenship '76 Palm Beach Tulare, CA

Report message to a moderator

Re: [GMCnet] How I adjust rear drum brakes [message #209389 is a reply to message #209380] Fri, 31 May 2013 08:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
John,

THANKS! Now I won't forget which way it is!

One thing no one has mentioned (or I missed it) is you have to get the auto-adjuster out of the way to back off the adjuster; see MM
X-7525 / Section 5 BRAKES / Page 5-17 / Figure 7-Backing Off Brake Adjustment.

Regards,
Rob M.

-----Original Message-----
From: John Blankenship

Up is tight
down is loose

Just remember uptight or down and loose.

The same on both sides
--
John

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426

Report message to a moderator

Re: [GMCnet] How I adjust rear drum brakes [message #209404 is a reply to message #209380] Fri, 31 May 2013 10:01 Go to previous message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
jtblank wrote on Fri, 31 May 2013 04:52

Up is tight
down is loose

Just remember uptight or down and loose.

The same on both sides

The pther point to remember is that if you have working adjusters then the wheel only goes one way until you stick in the long screwdriver to push the little arm back..

Matt - uinderway to the Work Rally at the Miller's

Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

Report message to a moderator

Previous Topic: Play in left steering relay arm
Next Topic: Creating a "tent" for the GMC
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Tue Oct 08 01:40:05 CDT 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.01484 seconds
.:: Contact :: Home ::.

Powered by: FUDforum 3.1.1.
Copyright ©2001-2021 FUDforum Bulletin Board Software