Self adjusting brakes - Mod
Well I made a decision to install self adjusting brakes as a part of my brake replacement this spring. Now after reading some posts I am sufficiently spooked and wonder if I should not have stayed ...
Forum Discussion
js6343js6343 wrote:
Could be I am anticipating the worst. I hope you are correct. One less problem.
Thanks
There should not be any "harm" in having them, self adjusting drum brakes HAVE been around for many years..
The downside is they sometimes fail to adjust, often times due to rust on the adjuster screw, brake dust/dirt build up on the adjuster screw, the adjuster wire rusting and breaking or the star wheel on the adjuster wearing out..
All of those above failure modes will never over tighten the brakes.
As far as overtightening, well lets just say it IS impossible for the automatic adjustment hardware to do so..
The adjuster screw can only move when no brakes are applied (IE no pressure against the drum. The adjuster cable has a spring to pull the adjuster down across the star wheel.
The spring only has enough strength to move the adjuster screw with no pressure against the drum.. It can only SNUG the screw.
Most likely the installer would have had to set the brake shoes too tight to have caused premature brake wear.
You only want to set the brakes so the drum slides on easy (IE very little to no drag).. If you set the shoes too tight you will have to force the drum on and that WILL ruin your brake shoes.
Nothing wrong with either way (IE auto or no auto), I just don't find it is worth the extra money for myself since I obviously am not hard on brakes.
