A couple easy brake questions

[tim87tr]

Just installed the larger wheel cylinders and soft rear shoes. Two questions:

1) What do I need to do to get the drum back on, everything is too tight at this point for this to happen. Do I need to bleed the system first, or adjust the circular adjuster dial inwards? (the one at the bottom of the shoes between them)

2) Bleeding the rear brakes, does the clamping of the plunger on the prop valve keep the dirty fluid from traveling upstream into the master cylinder? I know that is something I need to prevent, but my gnttype instuctions do not provide the details I need for reassurance.

Thanks, Tim

 

[salvageV6]

Yes you have to use the adjuster to move them inwards on the drum to get them back on especially with well worn shoes.

Secondly you don't have to clamp the prop. valve plunger to bleed them although it is done I believe for increased fluid flow or rear bias. while bleeding. It has nothing to do I don't think with allowing fluid flow upstream so to speak.

Keep fresh fluid going in while you manually bleed them until the fluid runs clear. Two person job maybe three if you have reliable friends. Need someone in the car on the pedal.


Just my .02.

 

[tim87tr]

Thanks salvage. I hope the adjustment works without taking it apart again, I think it will. I am going to have a TR friend stop by to help this weekend if he has time, otherwise my 9 year old son will be the brake pedal man .

 

[salvageV6]

If I remember right, which of course I prolly don't, you can just spread the bottom of the shoes open and spin the adjuster thingy a lot easier with the drum off which yours is. Then you release the shoes and they are inwards a bunch.

Been a few years though. I have two sets in the garage for my cars that need doing someday for racing.

I am only on my second set of shoes on salvageV6 in 140K miles.

They don't do much back there on the street.

 

[tim87tr]

That's what I will do then. I can probably wedge a piece of wood between the shoes to keep them spread while I adjust it. I'm looking forward to seeing if they will hold the boost better. After that I have the line lock to install

 

[salvageV6]

Don't forget to adjust them back out when you get the drum and wheel back on.

 

[tim87tr]

I'm glad you mentioned that, this is the first time working on the brake system. Just like everything else I've done with these cars, new injectors, rear main, etc. . Went out to the garage and put one side on. Even with adjuster all the way in, the drum is a tight fit using a rubber mallet to get it to slide over the shoes. Don't see any way to adjust once the drum is on, but it does not need it.

 

[salvageV6]

The way you adjust them with the drum on is on the back side of the brake system out where you bleed them.

Rubber cover over a slot where the brake adjusting tool goes in and catches the star wheel thingy.

Remove the cover and use the tool to rotate the wheel.

You will have to do that to a set of tight shoes if you have to take the drum off and it is stuck on. Loosen the shoes first from behind the wheel.

Go take a look at the back of the backing plate. Look at the cool little fitting for the brake bleeder too.

Not a fun job either.

 

[tim87tr]

I looked for the removable rubber cover on the backing plate and did not see it. Doesn't the shoes self adjust if you use your brakes while traveling in reverse? I know I had this on some truck rear drums one time and that worked. Also, I was just going to use the quarter inch socket on the bleeder valve of the wheel cylinder.