Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:40:05 -0700
Reply-To: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: rear brakes ?
In-Reply-To: <467165AA.80401@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Don I have a drum brake adjusting tool that has one end bent at about 75
degrees for this job.
Probably still at your local FLAPS.
Good luck.
On 6/14/07, Mark Drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
>
> The rear brake adjusters are mirror images of each other, including
> threading direction. You need to turn BOTH sides UP to loosen! Looking
> at it from the back side access hole that is.
>
>
> As I have mentioned here before, it is very common for one or both sides
> to be assembled wrong, preventing the self adjuster on one or both sides
> from working. The 2 stiff return springs are not identical. If mixed up
> the adjuster star wheel can be blocked from turning by the arm of the
> spring hook. Both springs should be installed so the long arms are DOWN.
> Carefully examine the springs to make sure no part touches the adjuster.
> There is supposed to be one pair of mirror image springs on each side.
> If someone mixed spring parts from both sides then it may be necessary
> to sort them out
>
> Mark
>
> Don Hanson wrote:
> > Hi, "84 van, no power brakes, manual tranny"
> > I did the Archive search, found lots of info pertaining to the rear
> brakes. Wanted to make certain and clarify a few aspects of this procedure
> before I get in there again and screw something up, like I have sometimes
> been known to do.
> > I had the wheels off yesterday and could not get either drum off, nor
> could I get any traction on the adjusting wheels (Star-Adjusters?) to back
> off the shoes.
> > What I did so far was to tap around the drums, which seemed to loosen
> up. Prying with a screwdriver against the backing plate, you could see some
> slight movement around the lug bolts, but it felt like the shoes were
> holding the drum. E-brake cable was released..The drivers side brake shoes
> are tighter than the passenger side, significantly. I could just turn the
> drum by hand, after banging around on it some.Too tight, the way I've
> always adjusted drum brakes..
> > So, from the archives, after perusing many posts, I found one saying
> you CAN 'fudge' the adjuster wheels for the brake shoes with a
> screwdriver..But for the life of me, I can't find one that works..Do I need
> to bend one up somehow in order to reach in there and turn the adjuster
> wheel? Also, the direction of rotation to move the shoes?.
> > .From an archive post (Bently says nothing) I get that *to loosen the
> shoes you rotate the right wheel's adjuster upwards and the left one
> downwards*..So, taking the left side wheel: I bend up some implement that
> will reach into the little hole without hitting the other supporting
> structure. I try to locate the star wheel adjuster, probably by feel, since
> I can't seem to fit even a trouble light back there...and then using the
> edge of the access hole as s fulcrum, I lift my adjusting implement, causing
> the tip of said implement to rotate the adjuster downwards? And the
> opposite on the passenger side?
> > I don't have the capability to loosen the axle nut..no impact wrench
> or large breaker bar...(broke all those trying to get off my Beetles axle
> nuts..After unsuccessfully bashing around (carefully) back there yesterday,
> I re-assembled and drove some. Got some 'squealing, squelching' noises from
> the rear driver side brakes when stopping..Also, after tapping back there, I
> found a pile of brake dust under the drum, indicating that indeed, I have a
> dragging brake there...
> > So today, I want to try again..but before I spend all day doing it
> wrong, or devising a difficult way to accomplish a simple task, I thought
> I'd ask...Special tool to access the adjuster? and Which way does what with
> them?
> > Thanks,
> > Don Hanson
> >
>
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
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