The long shank of the spring over the adjuster should go across the star wheel or things can bind -- good catch..
[C1] Brake problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 147
From: dalton ma
Brake problem
Last summer I added the self adjusters to my '62. For the latter half of the season they seemed to do the job (adjusted) and the brake function did improve some. I just came back from a 20 mile ride and both rear wheels were very hot, fronts cool to the touch. How can the self adjusters over adjust ? I thought this mod would be simple and painless. Bob
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
IIRC, the star wheel only tightens when driving in reverse, so if you do a lot of backing up, they can overtighten.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
The self-adjusters should never over-adjust. See 2:08 minutes in to this video to see how that works:
Are you SURE you got the adjusters on the right sides; they are not reversible...the end of the star wheel cylinders usually have an "R" or "L" on them designating sides.
IIRC the anchor pin plate had to modified to add the self-adjusters - did you do that ?
Post pics of both rear wheels on here if you can...
Are you SURE you got the adjusters on the right sides; they are not reversible...the end of the star wheel cylinders usually have an "R" or "L" on them designating sides.
IIRC the anchor pin plate had to modified to add the self-adjusters - did you do that ?
Post pics of both rear wheels on here if you can...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Jun 11, 2016 at 07:21 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Limerick Pa
From Frankies pic, take a look at the bottom spring and make sure its on correct. If flipped it will interfere with the star adjuster movement.
Last edited by Bowtyeguy; Jun 11, 2016 at 07:49 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 147
From: dalton ma
Follow up
I have done nothing to the car since my initial posting.
Tonight I took a 40 mile ride to a cruise and by the time I arrived there the brakes were so hot(rears) I couldn't hold my hand on the hubcaps.
After hanging around gawking for an hour of so we headed out to our normal ice cream stop. At the IC stop I again checked the rear wheels. Stone cold ! After IC we finished the journey with a 30 mile jaunt home. Again the wheels were absolutely normal .
I'm stumped at what causes the dragging and even more mystified at whatever causes them to stop dragging. If I get a chance to get pictures I will share them but at this point I do not expect to see anything unusual. Bob
Tonight I took a 40 mile ride to a cruise and by the time I arrived there the brakes were so hot(rears) I couldn't hold my hand on the hubcaps.
After hanging around gawking for an hour of so we headed out to our normal ice cream stop. At the IC stop I again checked the rear wheels. Stone cold ! After IC we finished the journey with a 30 mile jaunt home. Again the wheels were absolutely normal .
I'm stumped at what causes the dragging and even more mystified at whatever causes them to stop dragging. If I get a chance to get pictures I will share them but at this point I do not expect to see anything unusual. Bob
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,203
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From: dalton ma
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2015
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From: Fresno California
If you've been driving with dragging brakes that leave your wheels too hot to touch, your brake linings are likely toast. And your brake hardware (springs) are likely toast as well. They can lose temper when overheated, and fail to retract the shoes, complicating matters. You need to stop driving the car, and get it up in the air with the wheels off for a thorough brake inspection. You may well have the adjusters reversed, which will cause over-tightening, you could have a hanging up E-brake, or you simply could have the rear shoes adjusted much too tight. At this point, the drums may well be out of round/hot spotted as well. I have seen many over-tight drum brakes over the years, usually e-brake related, that have not only damaged the shoes and drums, but also damaged the hardware and axle seals due to extreme heat.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 147
From: dalton ma
It's been a while but I finally solved the brake problem today. The problem was the rear flexible hose from the main hard line to the rear distribution block. At first the hose would let a slight amount of fluid through to apply the rear brakes but not let the pressure release. Eventually became completely blocked even 25 lbs of vacuum would not pull any fluid through the line.
I expect to be flamed about this as the three flexible hoses came with the car when it was new in 1962, never changed. I did change the two front flexible hoses last week so now I'm good to go another 50 years. Bob
I expect to be flamed about this as the three flexible hoses came with the car when it was new in 1962, never changed. I did change the two front flexible hoses last week so now I'm good to go another 50 years. Bob