Brake Adjustment Tips for the do-it-your-selfers
Most front Disc Brake systems do not have brake adjusters . The brakes are automatically adjusted by a strategy built into the lip of the dust boot lip . The inner lip of the dust boot is designed to bind against the caliper piston to control the distance that the piston can move back in to the caliper , when the brakes are released . This strategy keeps the disc brake at the proper clearance and adjustment at all times .
On rear disc brakes , most are completely automatic adjusting the same as the front disc brakes . Although most models also have an automatic adjuster system for the park brake , a few models do have a manual adjuster for the park brake , built into the rear brake calipers . Many do have an adjuster on the park brake cable system . Never adjust the park brake cable adjuster until the other brake adjusters are all adjusted properly . If the adjustment is made before the other adjustments are made , it “will” cause premature rear brake wear and much less efficient rear brake operation .
On rear drum brakes all late models are self adjusting , how ever there are still time when it is necessary to adjust them . When rear brake repairs or service is done it is necessary to adjust the brakes after the repairs or service.
The self adjuster are designed to keep the brake pedal from getting low , after the brakes are properly adjusted . Refer to the manual for the adjustment procedure on your vehicle . Bee sure that the brake shoes are fully seated against the anchor pins and properly centered , before the brake drums are installed . If the shoes are not fully against the anchor , then the park brake is adjusted too high . It this case , back off the park brake adjuster until the brake shoes seat properly . The normal procedure is to adjust the brake “up” until the drum will not turn , and then back the adjustment off just until the wheel turns “freely” . After both rear brakes are properly you can adjust the park brake . Normally you would want to adjust the park brake so that it will lock the rear wheels at about ¾ of the way “up” but make sure that the rear wheels will turn freely when the park brake is released .
Improper adjustment of the rear brakes and park brake is a very common problem . It is likely the number one cause of premature rear brake wear out . Improper park brake adjustment will cause the primary brake shoe lining to wear out in a very short time (¼ to ½ of its normal life) . If you see that the primary shoe is worn greatly and the secondary brake shoe has very little wear then the park brake “is” the problem . I have seen were a model of car aquired a reputation for short rear brake life , when the problem was that mechanics were adjusting the park brake with out adjusting the rear brakes properly first . Most commonly if the park brake will not hold due to the pedal too low or the lever too high , if the rear brakes are adjusted , it will cure the problem , without even touching the park brake adjustment .