1963 rear drum brakes questions

[dmjlambert]

Hi folks. Here is my 1963 C10 1/2 ton rear drum brakes. I'm going to renew them with a brake kit and shoes and I have new drums as well.

If I order a 64-72 brake hardware kit and shoes and auto adjuster kit, will that be all it would take upgrade it to the newer style with auto adjusters? Or would I need to replace the whole brake assembly with backing plate?

Since these have no hole in the drum nor in the backing plate to get at the star wheel, how were these adjusted back in the day? Was it done by adjusting until the drum won't go on, and then backing it out? Is that spring stretched across the star wheel normal and how the star wheel was kept in place?

[Agv63]

Mine looks the same, i stayed with manual adjusting, yes, spring keeps the starwheel from turning by itself. I have a slot on my drum but its a hassle to adjust, must remove wheel, planning to mark and drill and file a slot on backing plate .

Adriaan.

[rbruno68]

I am wondering if the 64 an up kit would work too for the adjuster.

[Agv63]

The replacement shoes i used was actually for my 67 impala, just some extra holes for the auto adjuster setup,

Adriaan.

[Justin71105]

When I had rear drums in my 64' before swapping to disc a few weeks ago.

I just drilled a hole in the drum where the adjustment wheel was. Filed it out to the shape of the rubber plug that comes with the drum rebuild kit. Then I was able to just pop the plug out of the drum, adjust and put it back.

[leegreen]

Auto adjusters from a newer drum brake setup will work with that. I've done the same conversion. Find some pictures or a truck with intact auto adjusters and study to see how it goes together AND understand how it works if you don't already. I have seen many assembled wrong.

There is a left and right adjuster with auto adjust with opposite threads.

They self adjust when you pull the parking brake or put on the service brakes while in reverse. If you study the linkage you will see how that rod pulls the adjusting lever when these things happen. use silver neverseaze on adjuster and all pivots

Shoe arc should match the drums with contact in center of shoe, Not just at ends. With new brakes, adjust by hand until you get a light drag on the shoes, with the drum on pull the parking brake or apply service brakes to center up the shoes then recheck the drag. You want a light drag you can hear and feel, One hand on top of drum should turn it, You do not want to have to work at it to turn or you are likely to cook your new shoes.

If you do it right you will never need to adjust your brakes manually again. Use your parking brake all the time to keep it working. if pedal gets low, find a hill to roll down backwards while repeatedly using the brakes.

[dmjlambert]

Thanks, that is the sort of info I was looking for. I'm familiar with the auto adjusters from my 1969 C10, so perhaps I can add that feature to my 63.