Brake adjustment

Colorado Olds · April 3rd, 2008, 09:25 PM

Could someone please describe for me the best way to adjust the brakes on Josh' '66 F85 (power four wheel drum)? We just got it back to driveable after going through the brakes and other items, and all seems good so far, but it does pull to the left upon braking.

Sorry if this question has recently been answered.

Thanks,
Jim

Colorado Olds · April 5th, 2008, 02:46 PM

Any help on this topic?

Maybe you are all out working on your Oldsmobiles

I did try to search for this, with no results.

gearheads78 · April 5th, 2008, 02:59 PM

I am stuck at work waiting for 6 to get here so I will help.

The way I do it is adjust all the way out to lock up the drums. This will help center the shoes. Back off just enough that there is just very very slight drag. Basicly you don't even feel it but you still can barely hear the drums dragging on the shoes.

rocketraider · April 5th, 2008, 04:23 PM

Best way is to use a brake adjustment gage. Looks kinda like a giant pair of calipers with sliding jaws that can measure inside and outside diameter. Measure the inside diameter of the drum with the internal diameter jaws. Then lock the tool in position and put the outside diameter set of jaws over the outside of the shoes at widest point. Adjust the shoes outward to contact them. The shoes will then be adjusted perfectly to the diameter of the drum. You can pick these up cheap off a tool trailer at swap meets. I've seen them at Advance Auto too, but about twice what you'll pay at the swap meet.

If you can't get the tool easy, gearhead's method works good.

Just making sure- you replaced all the hoses too? how about the steel lines? Sometimes a hose will collapse inside, not let fluid backflow to the master cylinder and cause a wheel to drag. We had a master cylinder on a 66 Starfire that had a blocked return port and made all 4 wheels lock up.

Colorado Olds · April 5th, 2008, 08:33 PM

Thanks much for the replies and procedures.

Rocketraider: 'Just making sure- you replaced all the hoses too? how about the steel lines?' - Yes, we replaced all the soft lines, and most but not all the hard lines. Fluid seemed to flow free and clear during the bleeding process, so I think we are probably OK not having replaced ALL the hard lines. The only one we did not replace is the long one from the dist block back to the rear crossmember. Anyone think this might be a problem area?

April 3rd, 2008, 09:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Colorado Olds Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Longmont CO Posts: 37	Brake adjustment Could someone please describe for me the best way to adjust the brakes on Josh' '66 F85 (power four wheel drum)? We just got it back to driveable after going through the brakes and other items, and all seems good so far, but it does pull to the left upon braking. Sorry if this question has recently been answered. Thanks, Jim

April 5th, 2008, 02:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
gearheads78 Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,525	I am stuck at work waiting for 6 to get here so I will help. The way I do it is adjust all the way out to lock up the drums. This will help center the shoes. Back off just enough that there is just very very slight drag. Basicly you don't even feel it but you still can barely hear the drums dragging on the shoes. __________________ -Richard 66 Cutlass ragtop my way ACORN.............Helpin PIMPS N HOS since 1970 Keep watching your cotton candy coated TV while your world falls apart around you...

April 5th, 2008, 04:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
rocketraider Oldsdruid Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Danville Vajenya, the Last Capital of Dixie Posts: 1,189	Best way is to use a brake adjustment gage. Looks kinda like a giant pair of calipers with sliding jaws that can measure inside and outside diameter. Measure the inside diameter of the drum with the internal diameter jaws. Then lock the tool in position and put the outside diameter set of jaws over the outside of the shoes at widest point. Adjust the shoes outward to contact them. The shoes will then be adjusted perfectly to the diameter of the drum. You can pick these up cheap off a tool trailer at swap meets. I've seen them at Advance Auto too, but about twice what you'll pay at the swap meet. If you can't get the tool easy, gearhead's method works good. Just making sure- you replaced all the hoses too? how about the steel lines? Sometimes a hose will collapse inside, not let fluid backflow to the master cylinder and cause a wheel to drag. We had a master cylinder on a 66 Starfire that had a blocked return port and made all 4 wheels lock up. __________________ I know absolutely nothing about Oldsmobiles. Just ask the owner of Oldspower.com

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April 5th, 2008, 02:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Colorado Olds Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Longmont CO Posts: 37	Any help on this topic? Maybe you are all out working on your Oldsmobiles I did try to search for this, with no results.

April 5th, 2008, 08:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
Colorado Olds Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Longmont CO Posts: 37	Thanks much for the replies and procedures. Rocketraider: 'Just making sure- you replaced all the hoses too? how about the steel lines?' - Yes, we replaced all the soft lines, and most but not all the hard lines. Fluid seemed to flow free and clear during the bleeding process, so I think we are probably OK not having replaced ALL the hard lines. The only one we did not replace is the long one from the dist block back to the rear crossmember. Anyone think this might be a problem area?