Blowndodge

Hey, I thoughts these were suppose to be self adjusting brakes on our trucks? I just did the rear drums about six months ago, all new parts including hubs (don't ask ) neglect will make you do stupid things! Anyway, I noticed the other day that I sure have been standing on the break peddle hard lately and I think I smell the front disc over heating.

I decided to drive in reverse and hit the brakes a few times but no avail. I finally jacked up the back end and manually adjusted the driver side first and I must have spun that dial 5 times around before I heard the shoes scraping the hub. The passenger side on one full revolution (5 full strokes on the starwheel) and it started touching too. The difference was amazing. I had to learn to brake all over again.

Is this the way it is with self adjusting brakes? Man do they suck.

brad

spunbearing

Sometimes they work sometimes they don't. It's a good idea to change the self adjusters when you're in there. The older they get the less they work like they're supposed to. I cleaned mine up and put some lub on the threads and they work pretty good. ( knocks on wood)

Geico266

I think most of us just hand adjust them every oil change. A few clicks and you are good to go for another 3 months. Your E b rake shgould ahve told you there was a problem also. It should start braking within an inch or two of the top of the peddle travel.

If you really want good braking replace the stock slave cylinders with 1 ton GM's. Just hold on to your coffee.

DesertRat93

Better yet, get rid of those lousy drums and convert to rear disk. You'll never need to adjust them again.

Nuttymopar

Every time I was inside my rear brakes, I noticed that the self adjusters were OFF of their position. I ended up finally just cutting that cable as it never did work for mine.

Boatnik

What year truck would i get disc brakes from that will go under a w350?

John Faughn

One thing is if the shoes weren't close enough to touch the drums when you 1st put them in then they would not adjust , the next is the self adjusters work while backing up and taping the peddle , then a nother is its easy to put the adjuster on backwards.

wannadiesel

I put in all new hardware when I was in my rear brakes this summer and the self-adjusters seem to be working - for now.

To expand on what John said: the FSM says that the self adjusters will work IF you hit the brakes in reverse, come to a complete stop, then drive forward a couple feet.

jleonard

These are called "self adjusting" because if you want them adjusted, you have to crawl under the truck and adjust them yourself.

PeytonMaterne

I had a problem with my right rear wheel over tightening itself after a short drive, to the point that I couldn't push it(the truck) back and forth in the garage. I removed the cable portion and haven't had that problem since, just have to adjust it myself.

Dan Brooks

Sounds like the adjusters got swapped side-to-side....

No matter how hard I try, I can't get mine to "self-adjust" - but it does get lots of strange looks when I drive 40 MPH in reverse and slam on the brakes. I normally adjust mine when I change the oil or before I do any heavy towing.