Reddleman
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Ithaca, NY
Noticed my pedal was getting progressively softer, and losing power, specifically from the rear brakes. So much for self-adjusting, right?
So I first tried the "put it in reverse, get up to 15, and slam on the brakes". Still nothing. I thought I'd have to bleed, use brake spoons, pull the drums, etc., until I tried this:
Find a clear spot like a parking lot. Put it in reverse, then put on the parking brake enough to stop you from rolling back in reverse (about half way or so). Then give it enough gas to get it up to about 10-15, and quickly jab on the brakes in pulses until you bring it back down to zero.
Repeat x4-5 times. Try alternating by turning the wheel right/left while you do it to put more force on one side or the other.
Turns out the self adjusting mechanism only works well when one shoe is already snug on the drum (like with the parking brake applied), and the other moves opposite it (forcing the brakes on).
Problem solved.
If your mechanism is really old or crudded up, this may not work for you, but if everything's in pretty good repair, it's like magic.
So I first tried the "put it in reverse, get up to 15, and slam on the brakes". Still nothing. I thought I'd have to bleed, use brake spoons, pull the drums, etc., until I tried this:
Find a clear spot like a parking lot. Put it in reverse, then put on the parking brake enough to stop you from rolling back in reverse (about half way or so). Then give it enough gas to get it up to about 10-15, and quickly jab on the brakes in pulses until you bring it back down to zero.
Repeat x4-5 times. Try alternating by turning the wheel right/left while you do it to put more force on one side or the other.
Turns out the self adjusting mechanism only works well when one shoe is already snug on the drum (like with the parking brake applied), and the other moves opposite it (forcing the brakes on).
Problem solved.
If your mechanism is really old or crudded up, this may not work for you, but if everything's in pretty good repair, it's like magic.