Okay so today i changed all my brakes front and back. The front was easy because they are Disk Brakes. But the back has Drum Brakes and after i got everything put back together right i test drove it and the brakes are rubbing.

I searched on how to adjust it and came up with 3 different ways.

1) Do about 10 easy stops from 40-5 mph, Then do 10 Hard stops from 40-5.
2) Set the hand brake and couples times and the self adjust should do it itself
3) Drive in reverse and hit the brakes a couple times.


Which method is correct...If any for a 97 Honda civic.


Thank you HT

 

1) Is a brake bedding procedure, is good to follow with any new brake pads/shoes, but has nothing to do with adjustment.
2) Is one way to adjust a self adjusting tensioner.
3) Makes no sense, especially since drum brakes really don't do much in reverse since they lack the self feedback they have in forward travel (the rotation pulls the shoe into the drum, offering a form of assist).

Now, I haven't had too many cars with drums, but every one of them had minor rubbing from new shoes until the material wore in some. But, I've also never followed a proper brake bedding procedure for a car with drums, only cars with 4 wheel discs.

 

okay thanks for your reply. The rubbing isn't bad but i have only drove a little under a mile since i put them in.

 

Bump for more info.

 

bump

 

You adjust the the shoes in or out from the star wheel adjuster.

The parking brake method only self adjusts the brake shoes outward, not inward.

Pull off the drum and look for the adjustser star, looks almost like a miniature sprocket. I cant remember which direction makes the shoes come inward, so youll have to attempt it. If you dont have the proper tool to adjust it, a small flat blade screwdriver should work just fine. Before you start messing with it, take your finger or another screwdriver and hold up the adjusting hardware for the parking brake, it should be a brass color.

Rule of thumb for drum adjustment, the shoes should slightly rub on the drum, but the drum should spin somewhat freely with a little resistance.

Hope that helped you out somewhat, its kind of difficult to explain when you have no pics to go off of.

Im sure if you googled star wheel adjuster, youd come up with some pics of what it looks like.

 

Thanks psychoteen. I know what part you are talking about. I had it adjusted to where the drum was slightly difficult to go on. So i believe im going to have to take the drum back off and re-adjust it. Thanks for the great reply.