1961-71 Dodge Sweptline Truck Forum
Sweptline Showcase
Sponsored Links
I've always been easily confused by brake adjustment. That is, the adjusters themselves, not the procedure. I can never remember which direction the brake spoon tightens/loosens the adjuster from wheel to wheel. On my front '70 D-200 axle the spoon motion is 'Loosen up - Tighten down
DTA Home•
Photo Albums•
Archives•
Best of Forum•
Poly Headers Buy•
Jim's CD•
Easy-Street Parts•
Power Wagon Gear
Brake adjustment...?
Posted by:
JimmieD
(66.81.120.---)
Posts: 1,090
Posts: 1,090
Date: August 21, 2009 11:33AM
I've always been easily confused by brake adjustment. That is, the adjusters themselves, not the procedure. I can never remember which direction the brake spoon tightens/loosens the adjuster from wheel to wheel.
On my front '70 D-200 axle the spoon motion is 'Loosen up - Tighten down', meaning the end I hold moves up when loosening, down when tightening brakes to drum, same on both sides.
In the rear I have a '78 D-200 Dana 60HD and the driver's side
On my front '70 D-200 axle the spoon motion is 'Loosen up - Tighten down', meaning the end I hold moves up when loosening, down when tightening brakes to drum, same on both sides.
In the rear I have a '78 D-200 Dana 60HD and the driver's side
is 'Loosen up-Tighten down' so I followed the same for right side. I ended up with horrible brakes, having to pump to get shoes to even seat on drums!
So I went back to re-adjust right rear and the star wheel adjuster is of course, you already knew it, FROZEN! Doesn't want to move at all. Don't want to get too aggressive because I don't want to knock the loosened adjuster mechanism out of the slots and have a disaster, had that happen before on an 8-3/4. Dana 60's aren't a brake drum you want to pull. Yes, I'm aware of the locking lever that keeps star wheel from spinning loose by itself.
Strange thing is the star wheel's notches are made so that in one direction the spoon gets a really good bite and the other direction it would be more prone to slip, and that directional thing correctly matches 'Loosen up - Tighten down'! Something's screwy. Can't get my head in at an angle good enough to see the screw threads on adjuster to know where it's at.
I got all the parts to re-do the brakes all the way around but that's 2 weeks away and I need brakes now. I don't know if there's an answer, and I didn't really ask a question, but that's where I'm at. So I'll finish with a PET PEEVE:
Why in the hell after 50 years of making hydraulic drum brakes that require manual adjustment didn't 'they' make an access plate at least 1-1/2" to 2" diameter, held by a couple of small bolts or screws, that pivots out of the way to allow full access!!!!?? *$%&^*#!+)*!!
So I went back to re-adjust right rear and the star wheel adjuster is of course, you already knew it, FROZEN! Doesn't want to move at all. Don't want to get too aggressive because I don't want to knock the loosened adjuster mechanism out of the slots and have a disaster, had that happen before on an 8-3/4. Dana 60's aren't a brake drum you want to pull. Yes, I'm aware of the locking lever that keeps star wheel from spinning loose by itself.
Strange thing is the star wheel's notches are made so that in one direction the spoon gets a really good bite and the other direction it would be more prone to slip, and that directional thing correctly matches 'Loosen up - Tighten down'! Something's screwy. Can't get my head in at an angle good enough to see the screw threads on adjuster to know where it's at.
I got all the parts to re-do the brakes all the way around but that's 2 weeks away and I need brakes now. I don't know if there's an answer, and I didn't really ask a question, but that's where I'm at. So I'll finish with a PET PEEVE:
Why in the hell after 50 years of making hydraulic drum brakes that require manual adjustment didn't 'they' make an access plate at least 1-1/2" to 2" diameter, held by a couple of small bolts or screws, that pivots out of the way to allow full access!!!!?? *$%&^*#!+)*!!
Brake adjustment...?
Array
Sorry, you can't reply to this topic. It has been closed.