how do i stop self adjusters from locking the brakes up ?

[waynekarnes]

greetings, well found out what that squealing was from the right rear brake.

 

the self adjuster had forced the shoes all the way out. essentially i was driving with the parking brake on. when i went to check out the noise, found the drum locked up tight.

 

i did a search, didn't find anything on this ....

 

how do i stop that self adjuster from locking up the brake ???

 

for those that wonder how to get the drum off ...

 

affected side off the ground, safely blocked so car won't move, jack stand in place. removed the wheel, put a few heavy guage large diameter washers on each lug. tighten the lug nuts back onto the lugs, snug up to the washers ( the washer prevent damage to the aluminum drums ). using a breaker bar, you can now use the lug nuts to turn the axle ( brakes off and out of gear ), which in turn, turns the drum.

 

remove the parking brake cable at the backing plate. you can't do much with it connected.

 

with the adjustment plug removed from the drum, turn the drum, until you can see the adjustment wheel through the hole ( use a flashlight ). the smaller slotted wheel is the one you use, the larger wheel, with the fine notches, is the self adjuster. using a long, thin blade screw driver, through the adjustment hole, push under the self adjuster wheel, towards the rear of the car. you'll feel a slight resistance. push down and towards the rear, this moves the self adjuster away from the adjuster wheel. this makes it

possible to back the adjuster off, so you can pull the drum.

 

on the passenger side, you want the smaller wide slotted wheel to turn counter clockwise ( or downward, if you think that way ), this backs the shoes away from the drum. if it doesn't turn easily, the adjuster is still jammed against the adjustment wheel. reach under that adjustment wheel and push the arm away again. turn the smaller wheel, counter clockwise, until it stops.

 

drum should turn freely. now, grab a solid block of wood and a hammer.

put the wood against the back of the drum, on the outer ring of the drum. work your way around the edge of the drum, hold the wood firmly against the back edge of the drum (on the ring ), as you beat the wood with the hammer ( never strike the drum directly with the hammer ). working your way around the drum, this should knock the drum loose. if not ...

the drum is stuck by rust where the axle pancakes to the back of the drum. using a large rubber mallet, smack the drum on the sides where the shoes meet the drum. then smack the wheel side of the drum. do this for about 3 or 4 minutes. then go back to using the wood block and hammer, on the backside of the drum. the drum should slowly move away from the axle and pop off.

 

no reason to cut the drum in half or drill it full of holes.

 

 

that said ... my question again is, how do i stop the shoes from locking against the drum ???

 

the self adjusters worked worked from the factory, they should work now.

 

i have new rear wheel cylinders, new brake components ( springs, retainers, ect. ), nismo green shoes. the driver's side is fine, only having an issue with the passenger side.

 

thanks, wayne

[Guest Drewz]

You have installed new rear brake spring hardware as well?? If so the adjuster may be worn and sloppy than. That can cause it to be too aggressive in adjusting also if the springs are weak they can allow it over adjust. Keep in mind the side not locking up may be mal adjusted causing the other side to lock up. They have to be equal or the lockup occurs as well. Are the drums straight??? Were thay turned?? Never got grease on the shoes on that side??WD40?? Any contamination of the shoes or hardware will cause lockup. Alot of variables to look at.

[Guest Drewz]

Also there may be a front facing and rear facing shoe. Most rear brakes have a longer and shorter shoe. They must be installed properly.

[waynekarnes]

shoes appear to be correct, front and rear shoes in the proper place. all parts of the adjuster are new as well( came with the new wheel cylinder ). i replaced everything with new. the drums are new, and mic'd. they are perfectly round. everything that should be clean, is clean and all components that should be greased, are greased. the z had sat for over 10 years, before i bought the car, so i replaced everything, with new.

 

 

the brakes on the driver's side are fine, only the brakes on the passenger side are tightening up and locking the drum, as if the parking brake was on. this happened within 3 or 4 miles of driving ( no tags, so only quick test rides around the block ) ... i know, that everytime the parking brake is applied, the self adjuster adjusts the brakes. for some reason, it justs keeps turning that adjuster, until the shoes trap the drum. need to get that to stop happening.

 

 

thanks for the suggestions, once daylight comes, i will check those shoes again, make sure they aren't reversed. i think, short in the rear, large in the front.

 

wayne

[Guest Drewz]

I believe it is short front and long rear. I will double check myself though. Does the adjuster seem to be too free?? MC is new too?

[waynekarnes]

the shoes came from nismo, in boxes marked front and rear ( you can buy either shoe separately, if one wants ). i am pretty sure, i installed em correctly. will have to double check, but i think, there is only one way to put them on. one has a hole that goes over a stub that sticks out.

 

the adjuster arm and the little wheel on the end of the wheel cylinder are also new.

 

it has been suggested, that even though the springs are new, one may not be to tolerance, and that i might want to check that.

 

this is so damn frustrating. finally get 99% of the bugs under the hood worked out, now this ... swear there is a fiat emblem on this Z some where ... LOL

 

thanks for the suggestions, keep em coming !!! wayne

[Guest Drewz]

I think you should sell me the car cheap and I will figure it out from there?? lol. It is possible the spring is too weak depending on how long the parts were on the shelf and the weather conditions they had been subjected too as well as the faulty from the factory poss.

[Guest Drewz]

OMG here is a simple test. Swap the adjuster springs from side to side. I hate overlooking the simple tests!!!

[waynekarnes]

LOL ... ever since i bought this fiat, people have been suggesting i let them take it off my hands. paid 450 for a dead in the water V8 z. appears to be a home built scarab kit. a friend's uncle built it back in 1976, 77. he gave it to his son. he eventually sold it to his best friend. he did another small block chevy swap ( old for new rebuilt ). drove it for a few years and it broke down. sat for 10 years ( wife ). sold it to me. towed it home, after much debate and various tests, found a cracked head. replaced lifters and the push rods, as long as i was there. valve job on replacement head and the other original head.

 

in mean time, as it sat for so long, i redid all the brakes, everything but the brake lines ( which the previous owner had already replaced, along with all the springs, struts, suspension, and steering components ). he got pissed at me, when i told him i put 140k as the mileage on the DMV paper work, he says ... car was seldom driven, his buddy had 4 or 5 other z cars. he had 3 himself. says that 40k is the actual mileage on the car. not 140K. too bad it's been parked outside all its life. interior is fine, body has usual rust, and dried weather stripping.

 

lack of funds and general bad luck ( a FIAT tradition ), other than test rides around the block, it has sat in my driveway since last feb. i finally got a carburation issue squared away. thought i was gonna be able to drive it, when this happened.

 

you suggesting that i take the spring from the driver's side, move it to the passenger side ???

 

might give that a try ...

 

wayne