Midyrman

Been trying to adjust the drum brakes using the key hole slot on the drum.

Can someone confirm that the star wheel on both left and right sides expands the shoes towards the drum when the star is turned and you hear the clicking sound?

I know that you can use a second screw driver and put a little pressure (lift) on the small plate the prevents the star wheel from going the other direction. I can look into the key hole with a flash light and see the plate that prevents the star wheel from reversing.

Seems my star wheel is npw turning very hard....... after it turned very easy initially. Currently, I cannot turn the drum because I think the star wheel is too tight and the pads are against the inner drum.... and the star wheel is very hard to turn back the other direction even with the plate lifted to allow the star wheel to turn. I can keep trying to turn the star wheel back to contract the pads but would like to know if there is something I am doing wrong before I continue.

The star wheels on the other 3 drum brakes work fine and the car was restored about 6 years ago and everything is neat and clean from what I can see without taking the drum off.


Any Suggestions!

Thanks.

Thanks.

StingU2

Midyrman... If you can not turn your drums, you have the adjuster star to tight. Back the star off by turning it down just enough so when you turn your drum there is just a little drag on your brake shoes to the drum.

Bruce

Pilot Dan

First off, your 64 is equipped with self adjusting brakes which is why the star wheels are facing inward and can't be accessed unless the wheel is removed. Back off on the star wheel (rotate it upwards to get the stuck wheel free). Remove the drum and inspect everything to be sure there are no problems and that the adjusters and hardware move freely. Once all is well, go find an empty parking lot and back up and stop hard several times and that should take care of the brake adjustment if everything is working correctly. Pilot Dan

MikeM

Confirmed. That plate is what adjusts the star wheel. You have to hold it off the star wheel to reverse the adjustment.

.[/QUOTE]

Seems my star wheel is npw turning very hard....... after it turned very easy initially. Currently, I cannot turn the drum because I think the star wheel is too tight and the pads are against the inner drum.... and the star wheel is very hard to turn back the other direction even with the plate lifted to allow the star wheel to turn. I can keep trying to turn the star wheel back to contract the pads but would like to know if there is something I am doing wrong before I continue.

Thanks.[/QUOTE]

You're not doing anything wrong.

rfn026

If you're messing with drum brakes get a resetting gauge. Your life will get a whole lot easier. They're under $20.00 on Amazon.com



Richard Newton

Frankie the Fink

Sounds like he can get to the star wheel from the rear slot - he's doing it.

I've used the same procedure for 4+ decades. Tighten the adjuster until you can't turn the tire with one hand then back off 8 clicks. Yes, its a PITA to back things off with that lock plate but you can lift it with the screwdriver and still get at the star wheel with a brake spoon.

Midyrman

Got the star wheel moving again and drum unlocked.

Thank you all.

May have more questions later...