How much brake drag is enough?

[John Larkin]

I need more stopping/holding power now that I have switched to vacuum brakes (please hold the "I told ya so's" for some other thread). Testing my line lock Sunday night, I had to set it with the brake pedal almost to the floor. This was after trying it with a decent push which the car just drove right through. I have the rear shoes set so that the drums just slip on. I haven't knocked the inserts out of the backing plates to adjust them with the drums on, which I think is the next step. Regardless, how much spin should I get out of a rear wheel with the tire off the ground, spinning it by hand after adjusting the brakes? I realize the rear end is going to dissallow most of the spin but how tight should they be realistically? Can I put a torque wrench on a lug nut, and spin the wheel with the wrench to find a "torque" like maybe 5 lb/ft? Just a reference would be really helpful; the wrench was the only thing I could think of that might be able to be duplicated. If anyone likes the way their car holds power and has time to check their brake setting with a torque wrench in this manner, I'd certainly be appreciative.

 

[1ARUNEM]

John,

No torque value here, but the way i usually set the rear adjustment is by putting one hand at 12 o'clock on the tire and the other hand at 6 o'clock. Give it a good spin (forward direction of travel on the car) and it should not rotate any further than 1 to 1 1/2 turns max before the brakes 'drag' it to a stop.

I'm sure there are more 'by the book' ways to do it, but this works for me..

HTH..

BTW, i told you so.. hehe...