griffey57

How tight should drum brakes be adjusted on our classic oldsmobiles?

Olds64

I loosen the adjustment until I can get the drum over the shoes. Then I tighten the adjustment through the backing plate until the shoes drag on the drum. Finally, I loosen the adjustment just enough so the shoes don't drag.

I've never checked the CSM procedure. Just the way Oldsguy taught me.

joe_padavano

The self adjusters will tighten the shoes until they drag slightly. This minimizes pedal travel. I usually manually adjust until there is a light drag.

oldcutlass

This is what I do.

joe_padavano

I learned that from my high school auto shop teacher in 1975, so it's worked for me for just about half a century.
Cool teacher. He had a 1969 (?) Dart GTS.

oldcutlass

I learned it from my dad, around the same time frame. We had just purchased my first car, a 67 Cutlass that my aunt previously owned, and we were going through all the safety items, wheel bearings, and a tune.

BangScreech4-4-2

That 340 was a sweet little motor.

redoldsman

Guys, I think his car is a 57 Olds without self-adjusting brakes. Jesse gave some good advice. He had a good mentor. I think self-adjusting brakes started in 1963.

oldcutlass

They still need to be adjusted to where they just barely rub. Relatively the same amount at all four corners.

joe_padavano

Good point, I missed that. As with my 62, adjustment will be needed periodically. And as stated above, a slight drag is preferred.