67-72 Self Adjusting Rear Brakes ??

[ZEKE68]

Were self adjusting rear drum brakes ever an option on the 67 to 72 Chevrolet or GMC pickups?

[truckdude239]

Umm yeah my 71 are self adjusting but you still have to get them close

[FirstOwner69]

Standard on my 69 3/4 ton. I thought they were on all years, 67-72.

[ZEKE68]

Mine did not have them when I got it. Maybe I can find the pieces to reinstall them.

[quick60]

Yours did not have the star wheel at the bottom of the shoes with the spring loaded level to adjust it with? WOW seems you would experience serious brake fade with that issue.

[ZEKE68]

It has the adjusting wheel and screwe to adjust it. Just no mechanisism to adjust it without manually turning it. A lot of vehicles have a lever to tighten the adjustment when you backup and hit the brakes or use the emergency brake. Mine did not.

[cdowns]

all parts are redily available at the autoparts stores

[Daddy Brim]

Originally Posted by cdowns

all parts are redily available at the autoparts stores

When I got my truck the adjusters were missing on the front. Got the parts and new springs at my local store.

[C5Phil]

Originally Posted by cdowns

all parts are redily available at the autoparts stores

if you replace the adjusters just make sure you get the correct "left" and "right" ones... ask me how I figured that one out.... not a fun story.

[ZEKE68]

Don't have slots on the drums or on the backing plates. Have to take the drums off to adjust them.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by ZEKE68

It has the adjusting wheel and screwe to adjust it. Just no mechanisism to adjust it without manually turning it. A lot of vehicles have a lever to tighten the adjustment when you backup and hit the brakes or use the emergency brake. Mine did not.

The lever doesn't just provide adjustment; it's also the spring tension that keeps the adjustment star from turning freely. Without it, you can't be sure the adjustment will stay where it needs to be.

It sounds like a previous owner didn't know how to do brakes.

[volksworld]

lots of old timers thought the self adjusting mechanisms were too complicated and a p.i.a. and would purposely convert them back to manual...if they had to deal with ABS their heads would have exploded

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by volksworld

lots of old timers thought the self adjusting mechanisms were too complicated and a p.i.a. and would purposely convert them back to manual...if they had to deal with ABS their heads would have exploded

Hey!!
I resemble that remark!!
New fangled crap!!
Next they'll come out with 'sliced bread'!!
'

[geezer#99]

Manually turning it works fine. What do you think us old guys got to do before the self adjusters were installed?
We adjusted our shoes once a month.
Do you have the slots for the adjustment in the front in your drum?

[geezer#99]

Make some access holes in the backing plate. Make them oval and put a rubber bung in them.
In this link you can see the oval hole at the bottom of the backing plate. Most plates had two holes for use on either side.
The bung you can get at the autoparts store in the 'help' section.
http://jeephorizons.com/tech/xj44part1.html

[brown7373]

I remember a Pontiac 6000STE I had in the 1980s had 4 wheel disc brakes, and they the rear brakes were ONLY adjusted by using the parking brake. Living in the flat lands of south Florida, I never used the parking brake. The rears got seriously out of adjustment and corroded and unable to be adjusted manually. But 67-72 drum brakes had self adjusters actuated by applying the brakes while backing up.