Hey all, this is probably very simple, maybe you have some ideas.

After my Chevy dealer installed new drums, spring kits and brake shoes (all four wheels) a few weeks ago, the brakes do not seem to be well adjusted. Lifting the front of the car I have a hard time spinning the wheels. Giving them some momentum they will only turn for a quarter revolution, no matter how hard i try. i can hear and feel the shoes touching the drums. Also I have noticed that the Chevelle won't roll very good when idling out of the garage in reverse. That used to be different. I really thought I forgot to loosen the parking brake a few times.

How can I adjust that? I know there's an adjustment sprocket on the bottom, will it be enough to try and adjust the brakes with them or will i have to do something else? Which direction and how much should I turn the adjusters for a start?

Thank you!

Olli

The drums, after initial setup, should be self-adjusting. You just back up and then hit the brakes. The star wheel (the spiky adjusting wheel accessible through the access hole on the backing plate) should tighten up if necessary. I am a bit loath to suggest you loosen them or back off on them because I don't want you to have 'no brakes!'; however you may need to back off the star wheels with a screwdriver through the access hole, then back up and hit the brakes a bunch of time. I would not drive the car in an area where you could hit anything while doing the adjustment. When done, cover the access hole with a rubber plug made for the purpose.

I'm with Cam, be careful about backing them off. How many miles since they were done, if not many then wait a bit. Unless they arced the shoes they may have to seat into the drums. I don't think too many places arc shoes anymore.
If you do back them off don't go to the point where they spin free, they should drag a little.
There is a tool for adjusting them but a screwdriver usually works. You may need two, one to lift the adjuster arm off of the star wheel so it will spin the other direction. Then one to spin the wheel.

I would also check the parking brake and cables.

Chris.

Originally posted by Chris R:
I would also check the parking brake and cables.

Chris. Exactly! The rear brakes should be adjusted with the emergency brake released (of course) AND loosened. AFTER the rear brakes are adjusted properly, THEN push the emergency brake down 3 clicks and adjust the brake cable for a slight drag on the rear drums (in addition to the "slight drag" already there). The self adjusters will take care of the rest. Give the shoes a few hundred miles to properly seat themselves, avoiding "panic stops". Did they "turn" the drums as well?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Finally:
Unless they arced the shoes they may have to seat into the drums. I don't think too many places arc shoes anymore.
[/QUOTE
Theres a good chance that arcing shoes are against OSHA regulations.It creates a lot of dust.There was a shoe arcing machine at one place I worked at,I asked if they still used it.Their response was its illegal,the thing looked like it hadn,t been used for years.
Almost forgot,If your brakes have more than a hundred miles on them they should already be broken in.Bring it back and ask them to have a look at it.