That is a very good point! Having lived my first 45yrs in Maryland I remember those horrors. Now that I am in Texas everything is virtually rust free.In the salt belt our frequent service is to avoid this:
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Yes sir you are correct! I was only referring to my personal vehicles - yes customer vehicles do get checked. Good points 100!Last that I checked, every OEM specifies a visual brake inspection of friction linings at every minor service. If you are not selling this to your customers, that is a missed opportunity for labor revenue!
Avoid what? looks normal to me...In the salt belt our frequent service is to avoid this:
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I thought in the rust belt you just know when they need replacing when you can poke a finger through the backing plateIn the salt belt our frequent service is to avoid this:
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New brakes or new car if the backing plate is completely rusted.I thought in the rust belt you just know when they need replacing when you can poke a finger through the backing plate
I 1000% agree with all of this. I like taking the lips down, I hate backing off adjusters through the hole, and jackscrew provisions are genius. I've even considered drilling and tapping drums not so equipped, but haven't done so yetThere are several different varieties of brake adjuster, probably to avoid intellectual property payments. And they all suck. Dodge k-cars relied on the e-brake cable to provide proper service brake feel, for some arcane reason.
Pulling drums annually is great because I can grind down any rusty lip that's forming where the shoes don't ride. That lets me fiddle with the adjusters from the outside, and not through that stupid slot. I'm a pretty smart guy, I learned French in German, but I get turned around upside down trying to loosen my shoes with a screwdriver looking in from behind.
So I can slide the drum over my now-tightened shoes, with the feel just right, and then give them a proper spin with just the right "scratchy" sound. Also, drums not drilled and tapped for jacking bolts are the work of the devil.
Yep, I do it often with my 64 galaxie. About every tank of gas, the pedal travel increases, stomp on the brakes hard backing out of the driveway and the next time going forward usually brings the pedal right back to where it should be. I've gotten to the point I just make it a habit to step on the pedal hard backing out of the driveway every time now.This is very wise advice. I learned this 50 years ago, when first learning to drive. It doesn't take much. Just an occasional hard brake while backing. A hard brake is probably a little out of the norm for most of us, but nothing will keep a drum brake adjusted as well.
Yeah, but… while good for you to do, pretty unnecessary, given your climate. It’d take your lifetime for something to freeze up from rust, unlike in many parts of the country.I would be lying if I said I inspect, clean and relube every 5K. But periodic service gives me a chance to see what is going on. I do the front discs as well.
According to Yogi, you can observe a lot by looking... Or something like that.
Yeah my 66 Biscayne, with four manual drums, took very precise fiddling to get the brakes to react properly, particularly the fronts. If one was a couple clicks off there'd be a pull for a split second before correcting itself.Yep, I do it often with my 64 galaxie. About every tank of gas, the pedal travel increases, stomp on the brakes hard backing out of the driveway and the next time going forward usually brings the pedal right back to where it should be. I've gotten to the point I just make it a habit to step on the pedal hard backing out of the driveway every time now.
Inspections, my man. Finding a cracked pad or shoe surface, and a little adjustment; that's all.Yeah, but… while good for you to do, pretty unnecessary, given your climate. It’d take your lifetime for something to freeze up from rust, unlike in many parts of the country.
Not saying I’m jealous, just wildly envious…
Yeah, pretty interesting feeling when they don't all adjust evenly the first couple times you hit the brakes isn't it? LOL. I should have put new auto adjusters in that thing, the star wheels teeth are pretty rounded off, but they still work.Yeah my 66 Biscayne, with four manual drums, took very precise fiddling to get the brakes to react properly, particularly the fronts. If one was a couple clicks off there'd be a pull for a split second before correcting itself.
I swear my 63 Impala had self adjusting brakes. Im surprised that Biscayne didn’t.Yeah my 66 Biscayne, with four manual drums, took very precise fiddling to get the brakes to react properly, particularly the fronts. If one was a couple clicks off there'd be a pull for a split second before correcting itself.
You mean people don't drive fast enough in reverse to get them to activate, or are you supposed to hold the brake pedal down and go backwards? I used my brakes all the time in reverse, maybe you're talking about the people that just throw it in drive without stopping first? lolThe self-adjustment depends on using the brake while going backwards. Some drivers never do that, and it gets out of adjustment.