Hi, I am having some trouble with the adjustment of my drum brakes. The shop manual shows that the drums should be adjusted back Sixteen notches from a "firm resistance". Is this correct, as it would seam a lot of notches. Most people I have spoken to are saying only back them off 4-5 notches so wheel will rotate freely. What I am experiencing is that when the brakes heat up they are in fact constantly on. I am getting pull to the right as well.I also get vibrations setting up in steering at about 60 mile an hour.

The history is that the brake shoes, brake cylinders and hoses have been changed. The master cylinder has had new stainless sleeve installed and has been rebuilt.

I had thought it could be a mis-alignment with the Bendix booster push rod length, causing the master cylinder to not return to the correct position, causing brake fluid to lock up and not be released back into resevoir. The shop manual does not give any measurement for this but refers you to the Gauge J-7723-01. They do give measurements for the Moraine guage J -8531. I have also found a manual with for 65 Pontiac with Bendix which uses gauge J-7723 and dimensions of 1.200" to 1.195".

In summary.

1 what amount of adjustment from firm resistance should I us. Should I follow manual. What do you gentlemen do ?

2 Does anyone know what gauge measurement should be, or how you set up correctly.

 

I have a '62. I would never back off 16 clicks! My practice is to tighten to the point of a solid drag (firm resistance?) 10 clicks.

The key is to be uniform in your adjusting procedure. If you are not, then you will get a pull to one side or the other.

 

Hi Dave, thanks for the reply, I felt that this massive amount of adjustment in the shop manual was wrong. But you like to think that GM had it right. Anyway progress is that the brake shoes have been replaced and adjusted. I found what my fault was. It was to do with adjusting rod length, but caused by booster piston not returning to fully rest position, which in turn held master slightly on which has locked up brake fluid, this was also cause of vibrations at 55, brake drag. Can you tell me if you have any leads on getting boster repair kit (bendix). I can send unit out to "Karps" for rebuild, but it would work out cheaper to get kit sent here.

 

I guess I did not realize who was posting this message when I answered it. How is it going? The car still not on the road?

Yes, I can see where it would be a lot cheaper to get the kit sent to you, instead of your having to send the booster out.

I am not aware of any source for the booster repair kit. I will ask around for you. Hopefully, others here will see this thread and chime in with help?

When you said "Karps," where you referring to Kanter Auto Products, or some other entity? If someone else, then you might try Kanter.

 

Hi Dave, nice to hear from you again, the car has been on the road last 6 months, our long hot sumer.But I had been having some brake issues, which I now know the cause of. It was the booster piston not returning to the at rest position , causing master cylinder to apply pressure on drum brakes. This was getting worse on long drives as fluid heated up and also causing my vibration.
I have freed up booster for now but need to get a hold of a 7 3/4" leather booster cup washer for main piston. I have spoken to one company here in NZ who normally would reuse the old one.
Can you ask around. I did find a Cadilac supplier who had a rebuild kit for a 62 Bendix booster, but not sure yet of diameter.

 

I have put out feelers and shall report back anything positive I learn.

Hope your winter is not as bad as ours. Not terribly cold, but we sure got pelted with snow in the waning months of February and March!

 

My queries have yielded Karps, and this one -
http://boosterdeweyexchange.com/

It can't hurt to inquire of each if they would be willing to send you the part/kit? Nothing to lose by asking, right?

 

Hi Dave, I had found both of these sources but Karps did not sell kits, they would only rebuild. Dewey I could not get a response from.
I did look around and have found a great guy, named Mike who owns Cadillac Parts Supplies. He has the correct rebuild kit for car complete with leather piston cup washer 7 3/4" and correct long lasting grease. He was a pleasure to talk to and is looking at expanding his stock of Olds parts. See link below. He has more kits than are listed.




http://www.cadillacpartsltd.com/olbrbocyreki.html

 

Once again, notwithstanding being oceans away, you did better than I in locating what you need. Perseverance pays!

I have looked at the site you provided. It is interesting. Interesting enough that I have bookmarked it, as I own both Olds and Cadillac. Some prices seem mighty high ($425 for a NOS fuel filter?), but for most items they are fairly reasonable.

So am I to take it that the Olds has been certified for licensure? How did the frame swap go? Did you ever get any contributions toward the costs from the responsible parties?