Rear Drum Brake Adjustment

Taken from my calipers thread. Apologies for anyone who has already read it.

I've got quite a long pedal at the moment, but the brakes are effective. I think the fronts will get stronger as the pads bed in.

I think the long pedal is an adjustment problem with the rear brakes. I've adjusted them so that the shoes don't catch the drums but they must need to be a little tighter.

My drums spin freely, I've read some posts that say they should only spin once and then stop - I would be interested to hear how others adjust them.

i adjusted mine so that they were locked then turned the adjuster back until they just turned - that gave me a decent pedal but not sure its the correct way but they dont seem to overheat or bind or anything

It's reassuring to know that by the book does not appear to be effective! I will have another play at my earliest opportunity. Thank you.

Jack up, turn the front adjuster until you can't turn the wheel, back off 4 clicks
Do the same with the rear adjuster
Repeat, but only back off 2 clicks on each
The wheel should spin and give you decent brakes
Repeat on the other side.
Go for a run to the end of your street, hitting the brake pedal hard a few times,
Then get back underneath, tighten and back off two clicks on each of the four adjusters.
Have a pint of your wonderful home-made and relax!
Now you're going to tell me that you have single leading shoes!

flat said:

i adjusted mine so that they were locked then turned the adjuster back until they just turned - that gave me a decent pedal but not sure its the correct way but they dont seem to overheat or bind or anything

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That how I do my series, if you follow the book you have way to much pedal travel, a little bit of rubbing wont hurt anything

lynall said:

That how I do my series, if you follow the book you have way to much pedal travel, a little bit of rubbing wont hurt anything

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yep by the book felt to vague, and for the less than 5000 miles i do a year, i will jsut change the rear shoes slightly more often

flat said:

yep by the book felt to vague, and for the less than 5000 miles i do a year, i will jsut change the rear shoes slightly more often

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Think I only did 300 miles max in the series last 12 months, 90 did 200 between mots!

lynall said:

Think I only did 300 miles max in the series last 12 months, 90 did 200 between mots!

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You probably won't ever need to change them! Rear shoes are hardly a high wear item anyway tbh

flat said:

You probably won't ever need to change them! Rear shoes are hardly a high wear item anyway tbh

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+1 on adjusting both adjusters on each drum - some bright spark worked in just one adjuster on mine years ago and I nearly drove in the back of the first queue I met after collecting it...... Good luck, A

Many thanks gents. It feels much better now. Right rear is locking a little to quickly so just need to dial that back a bit.

My fronts are still bedding in. I can't lock them yet.

sp00k said:

Many thanks gents. It feels much better now. Right rear is locking a little to quickly so just need to dial that back a bit.

My fronts are still bedding in. I can't lock them yet.

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They should bed in within a few days, my new calipers and pads did - I could lock the fronts after a couple days of driving and braking.

Did you just change from pads or calipers aswell? Are they calipers in good order?

New calipers, discs, pads and fluid.

I don't think there is a problem, it's just the type of driving I do doesn't give the brakes much exercise.