Proper 8 1/4" Rear Brake Drum Adjustment Tool?

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Duggie

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Okay, someone is going to say, "screwdriver". I tried that - it didn't work.

A slot screwdriver will adjust the drum brake tighter but will not loosen it. I can hold down the tension tab that fits into the adjustment wheel through the offset opening, but can't back the adjustment wheel up from the opening adjacent to the wheel. The screwdriver slips off.

I bought the only drum brake adjustment tool on the shelf at Auto Zone, and it doesn't work either. So instead of throwing money at trial land error, I thought I'd ask what works to back these drum brakes off.

Thanks in advance! :thankyou:
 
depending on which self adjuster style you have, you can use one of the colored handle pick tools. small set like at hf. you may also have to put screw driver and pick in same hole to get adjuster to back up. the 90 degree pick or the crooked pick sshould work. once you hold the adjuster stopper away, aduster star will turn either way.
 
depending on which self adjuster style you have, you can use one of the colored handle pick tools. small set like at hf. you may also have to put screw driver and pick in same hole to get adjuster to back up. the 90 degree pick or the crooked pick sshould work. once you hold the adjuster stopper away, aduster star will turn either way.

Like this set?
 
With the drums off of the axels, back out the adjuster. Put the drums on and adjust until the shoes just nearly drags on the drum. Then put the tires on, go out to the street and put the car in reverse get up to 10 MPH and put on the brakes. Do this a few times and the adjusters will self adjust...
 
With the drums off of the axels, back out the adjuster. Put the drums on and adjust until the shoes just nearly drags on the drum. Then put the tires on, go out to the street and put the car in reverse get up to 10 MPH and put on the brakes. Do this a few times and the adjusters will self adjust...
Thanks Scody, but the drum won't come off. The shoes are hitting the lip on the drum.
 
Buy a brake adjusting spoon! Geeeez You can lift the lever with anything small enough to get into it with.
 
Yup just need to snag the lever and move it away from the star wheel. Some are a pita. also check your e-brake cable isnt hanging up a little,doesent take much to make it drag. And in this case any little bit helps.
 
Thanks Scody, but the drum won't come off. The shoes are hitting the lip on the drum.

Gotcha, did not say that to start. The drums on my Dart Hang 10 were so jacked I had to pull diff cover, remove the pin and pull the axels out of the housing, sparyed PB blaster on the axel drum mounting and took a BFH (dead blow) and got them off, all along thinking the lip on the drum was the issue...
 
Gotcha, did not say that to start. The drums on my Dart Hang 10 were so jacked I had to pull diff cover, remove the pin and pull the axels out of the housing, sparyed PB blaster on the axel drum mounting and took a BFH (dead blow) and got them off, all along thinking the lip on the drum was the issue...
Son of a gun! I may find that to be my issue. I just assumed the drum lip is hanging up on the shoes...
 
Drum stuck on hub, i use my air hammer with a 1” blunt bumping adapter and spray water around where hub meets drum. Done it 100’s of times. I do lots of brake jobs in my shop, and found this to be most effective. Water penetrates rust,and vibration breaks rust then water carries it out.
 
Son of a gun! I may find that to be my issue. I just assumed the drum lip is hanging up on the shoes...
In my experience, if the drum is stuck on the shoes you'll get a little movement of the drum as you pry (springs compressing). If it's stuck on the hub you won't get that. Just a thought.
 
In my experience, if the drum is stuck on the shoes you'll get a little movement of the drum as you pry (springs compressing). If it's stuck on the hub you won't get that. Just a thought.
You will be able to wiggle axle back and forth in drum lug holes.
 
It doesn't wiggle. I'm going in for a leaking axle seal anyway. Looks like I'll pull the axle with the drum, and separate them off the car.
If you can't get the drum off because of the brake shoes pulling the axle won't help. You will need to take the backing plate off as well. And then you still have the same issue of not being able to get the drum off but now instead of being attached to the rear end it is now laying on the garage floor.
 
Haven't looked at drum brakes in decades. The drum was frozen on the axle. I used CFD244's tips to get the drum off. I couldn't back off the adjuster because it was already all the way in. I must have been clicking against the brake backing plate, thinking it was the self adjusting lever. The inside doesn't look like the Service Manual...

Thanks for the tips all !!
Rt rear brake.JPG
 
Haven't looked at drum brakes in decades. The drum was frozen on the axle. I used CFD244's tips to get the drum off. I couldn't back off the adjuster because it was already all the way in. I must have been clicking against the brake backing plate, thinking it was the self adjusting lever. The inside doesn't look like the Service Manual...

Thanks for the tips all !!
View attachment 1715723135

Should put new adjuster kits in there. Are about 6 bucks a side....
 
Yeah, and most of the others. I use rock auto for searching and then pull the part number of the item I’m looking for and give them that. As you most likely know, “what’s the year, make, model?” Is about the most annoying thing of life...
 
It's a done deal. Both rear drums were frozen to the axels. Both brake adjusters were frozen in the shortest - in position, and the auto brake adjusters were missing. Other than that, everything was great!

Those new brake adjusters are a smooth as spreading butter on hot toast. :D

Thanks everyone for the tips!! Back in the saddle again. :steering:
 
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