Drum brake adjuster troubles

[Shankster]

I've been having issues with the self adjusters on my drum brakes since I bought the vehicle in 2021. I believe I've changed out the self adjuster hardware on both sides 2x and the self adjustment still doesn't work reliably. I believe I used Carlson self adjuster kits each time. When I first opened up the rear brakes I believe the self adjusters were working properly but there was a notch worn in the adjuster lever where it contacted the star wheel so I replaced everything in the adjuster system when I changed out the drums and shoes. Ever since, the adjuster lever does not sit hard against the star wheel like it should and I don't believe the lever is moving the star wheel as it should. I've tried bending the adjuster lever so that it sits firmly against the star wheel but the adjuster lever is made of some rigid junk steel that cracks when you try to bend it - that's what I have in my brakes right now - cracked adjuster levers. I haven't looked at them recently - they might still be working or they might have broken off. Anyway, I think it's time I figure this out for good. See photo below of the last time I did this. I've also included a clip from the shop manual which I think I used for reference.

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Anybody see anything wrong? If not has anyone had a similar issue and been able to find a fix? Is there an adjuster kit out there where the adjuster lever can be bent to the perfect shape and not crack?

 

[24turbo]

Not sure if this is your problem….. it looks like the brake shoes in your picture are the same. Not sure if it is still this way, but kits used to come with brake shoes with 2 different lengths of friction material. One of the set of 2 is much shorter. That shoe faces “forward” and the shoe with the full length friction material faces “rearward”. The idea being the front shoes primary purpose was to push the rear shoe hard into the drum. ( I know it’s not the way you would think. I believe it was termed self energizing brakes ifrc -it’s been a while since I took that in school). It’s possible now manufacturers just give you 4 of the same shoes to cut cost- I haven’t done a set of drum brakes in a while.

If the shoes supposed to be oriented specifically front and back it may change the geometry and get your adjuster in contact with the star wheel????

 

[Shankster]

Not sure if this is your problem….. it looks like the brake shoes in your picture are the same. Not sure if it is still this way, but kits used to come with brake shoes with 2 different lengths of friction material. One of the set of 2 is much shorter. That shoe faces “forward” and the shoe with the full length friction material faces “rearward”. The idea being the front shoes primary purpose was to push the rear shoe hard into the drum. ( I know it’s not the way you would think. I believe it was termed self energizing brakes ifrc -it’s been a while since I took that in school). It’s possible now manufacturers just give you 4 of the same shoes to cut cost- I haven’t done a set of drum brakes in a while.

If the shoes supposed to be oriented specifically front and back it may change the geometry and get your adjuster in contact with the star wheel????

Thanks for the reply. I think you're right - the friction material on one of the shoes is smaller / shorter than the other. I kinda doubt that's my problem but when I get things pulled apart I'll definitely check that and see if I got it wrong.

 

[Shankster]

I searched and searched for adjuster levers with a similar profile to what was originally on there and couldn't find anything. Cherokee adjusters for the 10" drums (only on Police, USPS etc vehicles) do look very similar but the hole at the end where it goes over the stud is oriented differently - it might work but nobody in town has those so I wasn't able to get my hands on one to compare. I ended up grabbing an old electrical panel out of my junk pile and used it to make a couple of adjusters with the same profile as the one I know works. Not the ideal solution I know but I really need my rear brakes working for 4x4ing this summer - it's super scary when you're reversing towards a drop-off in 4low and even with my foot off the gas the rear drums are not doing anything to stop me. I just had surgery and can't lift anything heavier than 15lbs so I'll need to wait a few weeks before I can see if my creations will work (and to check to see if I might have got the shoes mixed us as 24turbo suggested).

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.

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[Shankster]

Strange, I thought I posted re the difference in adjuster levers earlier but apparently didn't hit the submit button. Anyway, digging in my parts bin, I found an original adjuster (that works properly except for the notch worn where it touches the star wheel) along with one of the aftermarket ones I had tried and compared them - they're a different profile so I suspect that's my issue. Hopefully my earlier post about fabricating new adjuster levers makes sense now.

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that's my issue. Hopefully my earlier post about fabricating new adjuster levers makes sense now.