brake help

[61apachespeed]

how do you ajust brake on a 61 apache 1/2 ton. i know there not self ajusting.

[kirtzen]

They have an adjustment wheel inside the drum. Take a flash light and look in the holes in the back of the drum. You will see the wheel. I don't remember which way to turn it, but some playing around you should figure it out. I jacked up my truck and adjusted till the wheel would not turn, then slowly adjusted it back till it spun freely.

[nachodog2]

When i adjust the front brake shoes i leave a minimal amount of drag and make sure that both front wheels spin the same amount of rotations when spun with equal force, if not you can ger pulling when you brake. For the rears i remove the drums and adjust the the shoes so that there is a slight drag when putting them back on, it usually takes a few tries before i'm happy with it. Not very scientific but it works for me. Minimal drag though, you shouldn't have to force them in.
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[markeb01]

The 1960 Chevy Truck Shop manual states the following:

1. Raise vehicle and place on stand jacks with wheels clear of the floor.
2. Disconnect rear axle parking brake cables from idler lever links.
3. Remove adjusting hole covers from flange plates on all four wheels.
4. Expand brake shoes by turning adjusting screw until a light drag is felt on the brake drum.
5. On ½ ton, turn the adjusting screw in the opposite direction 7 notches on all four wheels to relieve brake drag.
6. Replace adjusting hole covers.
7. The book doesn’t mention needing to reconnect the brake cables!

Personally I tighten the adjusters until they can’t be turned any further, as this centers the shoes within the drum, and then back off until there is just a slight drag, and always the same amount side for side.

Also, I installed self adjusters from the newer series on the rear of my 1960 (I have discs up front). I just bought the upgrade kit from one of the Chevy truck suppliers. The only modification needed it to replace the brake shoes with the later model shoes designed for self adjusters. They have an extra hole in the shoe frame that is needed for the self-adjusting setup.