How to Adjust Drum Brake Pads

While some import vehicles employ self-adjusting brakes by applying the parking brake and tightening up any slack in the cable, many domestic vehicles require manually adjusting the brakes. Since the rear brakes only accommodate about 25 percent of the braking capacity, it's extremely important to keep the drum brakes adjusted. When they become unadjusted, the front brakes overcompensate and can become compromised by prematurely wearing out or causing heat damage to the front discs.

Instructions

1

Park the vehicle on a hard, flat surface. Place the vehicle in gear or in park if it is front-wheel drive. If it is rear-wheel drive, apply the parking brake and then place a wheel wedge in front of one of the front tires and behind one of the rear tires to stabilize the vehicle.

2

Release the parking brake once the wheel wedges have been placed.

3

Crack the lug nuts loose a quarter turn or so with the lug-nut removal tool.

4

Lift the rear axle of the vehicle with the jack and then support the rear axle or frame of the vehicle on jack stands.

5

Remove the lug nuts and wheels.

6

Check the play in the parking brake cable to see if there is too much slack. A telltale sign is a sagging rear cable or a cable that will no longer hold the vehicle in place when applied. A loose parking brake handle or pedal inside the cab of the vehicle is another indicator that you need to tighten the cable adjustment.

7

Locate the front or intermediate connection of the brake cable to the rear brake cables. Since many vehicles employ different methods of adjusting brake cables, you'll have to identify whether the cable features the option to tighten the adjustment on it. The presence of a threaded bolt and nut will dictate whether the cable is adjustable and can be tightened. If the nut and bolt are not present on the connection, the adjustment of the cable will need to be performed inside the cab of the vehicle near the parking brake handle (some import vehicles).

8

Spray the threaded section and nut of the parking brake junction with penetrating lubricant. Allow it to soak in.

9

Hold the junction bracket of the cable stationary with a hand wrench and then tighten the adjustment nut with another hand wrench until the cable is no longer sagging. Test the cable by applying the parking brake from inside the vehicle and then trying to turn the rear drums. If you cannot turn them under duress, the cable adjustment may be tight enough. Release the handle to make sure you can now turn the rear brake drums.

10

Locate the rear brake adjustment port on the back side of the backing plate. If the vehicle does not feature one, you'll have to remove the drum. This may require penetrating lubricant on the hub-to-drum hole junction and a few sharp smacks with a hammer on the hub face of the drum. If you have to remove the drum, skip Step 11 and proceed to Step 12. Some drums may also require removing retaining screws from the hub face. If so, use an impact screwdriver and a hammer to remove the screws.

11

Remove the black rubber plug (if equipped) from the backing plate to access the self-adjusting mechanism. Insert the 6-inch thin-bladed screwdriver and feel around inside the port to locate the self-adjusting retaining bracket.

12

Push the bracket away from the star-wheel with the screwdriver and then insert the brake-adjusting spoon to turn the star-wheel. If you had to remove the drum, turn the star-wheel to expand the brake shoes outward. If you're going through the port, turn the wheel three or four times and then turn the drum to see if it's tightening. If it's loosening, turn the star-wheel in the opposite direction.

13

Continue to turn the star-wheel while pressing back on the retaining bracket until the drum will no longer turn one full revolution when spun. This will provide enough adjustment for the rear brake shoes. If you had to remove the drum, be sure you can refit the drum back onto the brake shoe assembly or you'll have to back down the adjustment.