A Guide to Adjusting Drum Brakes While Reversing Your Vehicle

How to Adjust Drum Brakes by Backing Up

Drum brakes are a crucial component of many vehicles, providing powerful stopping power and ensuring safety on the road. Over time, these brakes can wear down, leading to decreased performance. One simple and effective method for adjusting drum brakes is by backing up. In this article, we’ll explore how this method works and provide a step-by-step guide on how to perform this adjustment.

Understanding Drum Brakes

Before diving into the adjustment process, it’s essential to understand how drum brakes function. Drum brakes consist of a cylindrical drum that rotates with the wheel. Inside the drum, there are brake shoes that are coated with friction material. When the brake pedal is pressed, hydraulic pressure expands the shoes against the inner surface of the drum, creating friction to slow down or stop the vehicle.

Over time, the brake shoes can wear down, reducing their effectiveness. Adjusting the brakes ensures that the shoes are positioned correctly within the drum, maintaining optimal braking performance.

Why Backing Up Works

When you back up, the brake shoes engage with the drum in a way that helps to align and seat them properly. This is particularly effective in self-adjusting drum brake systems, where the act of reversing forces the shoes to spread apart slightly. This action helps to self-adjust the brake system and take up any slack that has developed from wear and tear.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adjusting Drum Brakes by Backing Up

1. Safety First Before you start any work on your vehicle, ensure it's parked on a flat surface and engage the parking brake. For additional safety, place wheel chocks behind the front wheels if you're working on the rear brakes.

2. Locate the Adjustment Mechanism Drum brakes usually have an adjustment mechanism accessible through an opening in the backing plate. It may be a star wheel or an automatic adjuster depending on the make and model of your vehicle.

3. Remove the Wheel Using a lug wrench, loosen the lug nuts and remove the wheel. This will give you access to the drum.

4. Inspect the Brake Assembly Before making any adjustments, inspect the brake assembly for wear. Check the brake shoes, springs, and drum for any signs of damage or excessive wear. Replace any worn components as necessary.

5. Adjust the Brakes If your vehicle has an adjustable star wheel, use a brake adjuster tool or a flat-head screwdriver to turn the star wheel. Turning it in one direction will tighten the shoes, while turning it in the opposite direction will loosen them.

6. Back Up the Vehicle Once you’ve made the initial adjustment, it’s time to test it. Carefully back up your vehicle a short distance (a few feet). As you do this, the brake shoes will engage with the drum and help adjust and seat the shoes properly.

7. Check Brake Responsiveness After backing up, apply the brakes gently to test their responsiveness. If the pedal feels firm and the vehicle stops smoothly, you’ve adjusted the brakes correctly. Repeat the backing-up process if necessary for further adjustments.

8. Reassemble and Test Drive Once you are satisfied with the adjustment, reattach the drum and wheel. Make sure to torque the lug nuts to the manufacturer's specifications. Take your vehicle for a test drive in a safe area to ensure the brakes are functioning properly.

Conclusion

Adjusting drum brakes by backing up is a straightforward process that can enhance your vehicle's braking performance. Regular maintenance and adjustments can prolong the life of your brake components and ensure a safer driving experience. If you're unsure about any step in the process or if the brakes are still not functioning correctly after your adjustments, consult a professional mechanic for assistance. Remember, safety comes first, so never hesitate to seek help when it comes to your vehicle's braking system.