Rear brake adjusters make shoes to tight.

BBdartz · 11-04-2009, 05:59 PM

I use my truck for plowing snow in the winter which means that it is going backwards as much as forwards and actually does more braking when in reverse. My problem is that the auto adjusters tighten the rear brake shoes so much that the tires do not spin freely and can cause some crazy handling issues on ice. I backed the adjusters off manually and now I have a low brake pedal with the brake light coming on and off.

Anybody else run into this situtation? What do you think may be my best fix?

I have owned only Dodge trucks and done alot of plowing, but I have never had this problem before.

Thanks

__________________
Bruce S. Beger

powerbrake · 11-04-2009, 06:48 PM

i don't know if i should say lucky you or what. i cannot help with this but hopefully someone will. these truck were shoed with some crappy brakes ( that is my opinion ) but mostly we have a problem with the brakes not adjusting up leaving us with poor braking. i purposly back out fast and brake hard every morning and still..... i adjust my brakes every oil change and have good brakes for a few days. by the way, welcome to the forum

__________________
92 4x4, fuel screw turned in all the way, starwheel dropped to the bottom, 40 hp injectors, machined pin, detroit locker lets me smoke 'em evenly. auto meter pyro.

God Bless Our Country and Damn The Goverment

luckystars · 11-04-2009, 08:25 PM

As an OLD mechanic MAYBE I can help

The cable that conects from the top center post to the adjuster wheel must be adjusted when installed. It can not be adjusted but the guide that attachs to the rear shoe can be adjusted. If I remember corectly I used a large screwdriver to take some of the curve out of it so the adjusting lever sat properly. Sometimes you have to take some slack out so that the lever is stroking above where it can get a cog on the adjuster wheel. I hope this helps. It's kind of hard to explain and I'm not sure if I'm being clear.
Let me know if I need to explain further.

__________________
1993 W350 5 speed Club Cab 240,800 miles
***************************************If it ain't broke you're not useing it enough.**************************************

Last edited by luckystars : 11-04-2009 at 08:27 PM. Reason: additional info added.

BBdartz · 11-05-2009, 02:25 AM

I am pretty sure I understand what you are talking about. I will pull the drums off again and try to adjust according to your instructions.

Thanx

__________________
Bruce S. Beger

denman · 11-05-2009, 12:16 PM

the luckystars method looks promising, but you might also consider fabbing out a rod notched on the ends to replace the whole star wheel from shoe to shoe, then put the star wheel back in the spring. My shoes don't wear all that fast so loss of rear braking would not not show up for a long time. My rule of thumb on rear brake shoes is "if the park brake works don't worry about it" FWIW

__________________
1993 D350 DRW, Getrag G350, 760,000 km, CB, Sirius Sat radio, flat deck with headache rack.

BBdartz · 11-05-2009, 12:36 PM

Now thats a damn good suggestions Denman. I think I will try and get the star wheel working right as luckystars described and also fab up the rods and have them ready in case I have problems during the plowing season.

I had to work on this thing out in the snow last winter and for some reason my buddy heater caught on fire under the truck which was somewhat of a worrysome experience. I don't want to repeat that episode again this winter.

Good thinking and thankz.

__________________
Bruce S. Beger

denman · 11-05-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBdartz

Now thats a damn good suggestions Denman. I think I will try and get the star wheel working right as luckystars described and also fab up the rods and have them ready in case I have problems during the plowing season.

I had to work on this thing out in the snow last winter and for some reason my buddy heater caught on fire under the truck which was somewhat of a worrysome experience. I don't want to repeat that episode again this winter.

Good thinking and thankz.

Glad to help, and I've done my share of "frozen hands mechanics", .... I guess you folks know something about snow around that locale eh?.....

__________________
1993 D350 DRW, Getrag G350, 760,000 km, CB, Sirius Sat radio, flat deck with headache rack.

luckystars · 11-05-2009, 10:22 PM

I understand adjuster, servo, ratio, bendix, proportion valve and stuff like that. What is this "snow" stuff and how can it affect braking?????????????
The last time I had "snow" Head and Shoulders cleared it up in no time.

__________________
1993 W350 5 speed Club Cab 240,800 miles
***************************************If it ain't broke you're not useing it enough.**************************************

Old 'n Rusty · 11-06-2009, 01:55 AM

Hey, Luckystars, I bet you are not into hard water fishing. The season starts around mid-december and last till spring break-up -usually late March around here.

__________________
91 (08-90) D250
5sp 2wd 497k VE 'adjusted', 3200 spring, Pyro, boost, 3.54 ,:thumbsup KN, 1\8" timing bump, 25mpg city 30mpg hiway 20mpg towing 6k 5'er
R60/7, Volvo 245 GL, f150 4x4 5 spd, Ram 318, MPG's are in Imp gal's

11-04-2009, 05:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
BBdartz Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Upper, Michigan Posts: 17 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts BBdartz's Truck Pics	Rear brake adjusters make shoes to tight. I use my truck for plowing snow in the winter which means that it is going backwards as much as forwards and actually does more braking when in reverse. My problem is that the auto adjusters tighten the rear brake shoes so much that the tires do not spin freely and can cause some crazy handling issues on ice. I backed the adjusters off manually and now I have a low brake pedal with the brake light coming on and off. Anybody else run into this situtation? What do you think may be my best fix? I have owned only Dodge trucks and done alot of plowing, but I have never had this problem before. Thanks __________________ Bruce S. Beger

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11-04-2009, 06:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
powerbrake Cummins Nut Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: charleston west by god Posts: 402 Thanks: 6 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts powerbrake's Truck Pics	i don't know if i should say lucky you or what. i cannot help with this but hopefully someone will. these truck were shoed with some crappy brakes ( that is my opinion ) but mostly we have a problem with the brakes not adjusting up leaving us with poor braking. i purposly back out fast and brake hard every morning and still..... i adjust my brakes every oil change and have good brakes for a few days. by the way, welcome to the forum __________________ 92 4x4, fuel screw turned in all the way, starwheel dropped to the bottom, 40 hp injectors, machined pin, detroit locker lets me smoke 'em evenly. auto meter pyro. God Bless Our Country and Damn The Goverment

11-04-2009, 08:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
luckystars Cummins Fan Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sorrento Fl Posts: 36 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts luckystars's Truck Pics	As an OLD mechanic MAYBE I can help The cable that conects from the top center post to the adjuster wheel must be adjusted when installed. It can not be adjusted but the guide that attachs to the rear shoe can be adjusted. If I remember corectly I used a large screwdriver to take some of the curve out of it so the adjusting lever sat properly. Sometimes you have to take some slack out so that the lever is stroking above where it can get a cog on the adjuster wheel. I hope this helps. It's kind of hard to explain and I'm not sure if I'm being clear. Let me know if I need to explain further. __________________ 1993 W350 5 speed Club Cab 240,800 miles *************************************If it ain't broke you're not useing it enough.************************************ Last edited by luckystars : 11-04-2009 at 08:27 PM. Reason: additional info added.

11-05-2009, 02:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
BBdartz Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Upper, Michigan Posts: 17 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts BBdartz's Truck Pics	I am pretty sure I understand what you are talking about. I will pull the drums off again and try to adjust according to your instructions. Thanx __________________ Bruce S. Beger

11-05-2009, 12:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
denman Cummins Fan Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 61 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts denman's Truck Pics	the luckystars method looks promising, but you might also consider fabbing out a rod notched on the ends to replace the whole star wheel from shoe to shoe, then put the star wheel back in the spring. My shoes don't wear all that fast so loss of rear braking would not not show up for a long time. My rule of thumb on rear brake shoes is "if the park brake works don't worry about it" FWIW __________________ 1993 D350 DRW, Getrag G350, 760,000 km, CB, Sirius Sat radio, flat deck with headache rack.

11-05-2009, 12:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
BBdartz Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Upper, Michigan Posts: 17 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts BBdartz's Truck Pics	Now thats a damn good suggestions Denman. I think I will try and get the star wheel working right as luckystars described and also fab up the rods and have them ready in case I have problems during the plowing season. I had to work on this thing out in the snow last winter and for some reason my buddy heater caught on fire under the truck which was somewhat of a worrysome experience. I don't want to repeat that episode again this winter. Good thinking and thankz. __________________ Bruce S. Beger

11-05-2009, 10:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
luckystars Cummins Fan Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sorrento Fl Posts: 36 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts luckystars's Truck Pics	I understand adjuster, servo, ratio, bendix, proportion valve and stuff like that. What is this "snow" stuff and how can it affect braking????????????? The last time I had "snow" Head and Shoulders cleared it up in no time. __________________ 1993 W350 5 speed Club Cab 240,800 miles *************************************If it ain't broke you're not useing it enough.************************************

11-06-2009, 01:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
Old 'n Rusty Cummins Nut Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Edmonton Posts: 356 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts Old 'n Rusty's Truck Pics	Hey, Luckystars, I bet you are not into hard water fishing. The season starts around mid-december and last till spring break-up -usually late March around here. __________________ 91 (08-90) D250 5sp 2wd 497k VE 'adjusted', 3200 spring, Pyro, boost, 3.54 ,:thumbsup KN, 1\8" timing bump, 25mpg city 30mpg hiway 20mpg towing 6k 5'er R60/7, Volvo 245 GL, f150 4x4 5 spd, Ram 318, MPG's are in Imp gal's