Has anyone had to have their parking brake drums cut?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 136
Likes: 3
From: Warrington, Pennsylvania
Has anyone had to have their parking brake drums cut?
After struggling for years with a parking brake that would barely hold at the last click, I finally pulled the wheels and rotors and adjusted the e-brake shoes. The brake now holds nicely at three clicks, but I’m now hearing a cyclical rubbing sound that I suspect is being caused by an out-of-round condition in one, or both, of the drums.
I have scoured the entire greater-Philly area trying to find a shop that still has a drum lathe, and have only found one - and they want $80 each to true them up! I may be old, but that sounds like a usury rate to me! If I can’t find something more reasonable, I may just back off
the adjusters a notch or two and live with the brake handle at five clicks.
I have scoured the entire greater-Philly area trying to find a shop that still has a drum lathe, and have only found one - and they want $80 each to true them up! I may be old, but that sounds like a usury rate to me! If I can’t find something more reasonable, I may just back off
the adjusters a notch or two and live with the brake handle at five clicks.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,350
Likes: 1,124
From: Dyer, IN
After struggling for years with a parking brake that would barely hold at the last click, I finally pulled the wheels and rotors and adjusted the e-brake shoes. The brake now holds nicely at three clicks, but I’m now hearing a cyclical rubbing sound that I suspect is being caused by an out-of-round condition in one, or both, of the drums.
I have scoured the entire greater-Philly area trying to find a shop that still has a drum lathe, and have only found one - and they want $80 each to true them up! I may be old, but that sounds like a usury rate to me! If I can’t find something more reasonable, I may just back off
the adjusters a notch or two and live with the brake handle at five clicks.
I have scoured the entire greater-Philly area trying to find a shop that still has a drum lathe, and have only found one - and they want $80 each to true them up! I may be old, but that sounds like a usury rate to me! If I can’t find something more reasonable, I may just back off
the adjusters a notch or two and live with the brake handle at five clicks.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 1,004
After struggling for years with a parking brake that would barely hold at the last click, I finally pulled the wheels and rotors and adjusted the e-brake shoes. The brake now holds nicely at three clicks, but I’m now hearing a cyclical rubbing sound that I suspect is being caused by an out-of-round condition in one, or both, of the drums.
I have scoured the entire greater-Philly area trying to find a shop that still has a drum lathe, and have only found one - and they want $80 each to true them up! I may be old, but that sounds like a usury rate to me! If I can’t find something more reasonable, I may just back off
the adjusters a notch or two and live with the brake handle at five clicks.
I have scoured the entire greater-Philly area trying to find a shop that still has a drum lathe, and have only found one - and they want $80 each to true them up! I may be old, but that sounds like a usury rate to me! If I can’t find something more reasonable, I may just back off
the adjusters a notch or two and live with the brake handle at five clicks.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 136
Likes: 3
From: Warrington, Pennsylvania
I believe there is only one way to adjust them: I removed the wheels, calipers and mounting brackets and then the rotors. Rotating the adjusters widens the shoes at the base. It may be that they were never set properly to begin with and now that I adjusted them correctly the shoe(s) are contacting a high spot on the drum.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 1,004
I believe there is only one way to adjust them: I removed the wheels, calipers and mounting brackets and then the rotors. Rotating the adjusters widens the shoes at the base. It may be that they were never set properly to begin with and now that I adjusted them correctly the shoe(s) are contacting a high spot on the drum.
I would try re-adjusting it, let it take 4 or 5 clicks to set the brake instead of 3.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 87
Likes: 22
From: SW CO
After struggling for years with a parking brake that would barely hold at the last click, I finally pulled the wheels and rotors and adjusted the e-brake shoes. The brake now holds nicely at three clicks, but I’m now hearing a cyclical rubbing sound that I suspect is being caused by an out-of-round condition in one, or both, of the drums.
I have scoured the entire greater-Philly area trying to find a shop that still has a drum lathe, and have only found one - and they want $80 each to true them up! I may be old, but that sounds like a usury rate to me! If I can’t find something more reasonable, I may just back off
the adjusters a notch or two and live with the brake handle at five clicks.
I have scoured the entire greater-Philly area trying to find a shop that still has a drum lathe, and have only found one - and they want $80 each to true them up! I may be old, but that sounds like a usury rate to me! If I can’t find something more reasonable, I may just back off
the adjusters a notch or two and live with the brake handle at five clicks.
Here is something to try prior to readjusting:
In a safe spot, coast at 15-20 MPH and apply the parking brakes to slow the car and seat the shoes to the drums at their new adjustment diameter. Allow to cool and repeat a few times.
Some manufacturers actually prescribe this as part of the parking-brake adjustment procedure.
BTW, I would sooner replace the rotors than trust someone to true them without removing excess material.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,350
Likes: 1,124
From: Dyer, IN
Did you confirm any measurements of the drum to shoe clearance, or the overall brake shoe lining? Did you check for rotational resistance with the drum installed after cycling the brake 3 times?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 136
Likes: 3
From: Warrington, Pennsylvania
I don’t have a caliper to measure the diameter of the drum in comparison to that of the linings. I adjusted each side and felt for a little resistance when I reinstalled the rotors. That’s how I got to three clicks
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,350
Likes: 1,124
From: Dyer, IN
ok...that's the problem. Just follow the service manual....piece of cake.