Brake adjustment

[Gerry]

I am ready to do a brake adjustment on my truck. Everything is new except the drums which where trailer drums turned with the hubs. I did a search and couldnt find alternate way than what the manual gives. I cant see through the adjusting slot and assume the window they manual talks about are not on these drums.
Thanks for your time.

[jimmy_stikx]

There's an adjusting slot? I either over looked that or I'm in the same boat. I did mine by feel.

[HingsingM37]

On the stock M37 drums there is an access slot that is used for a feeler gage to set clearance between the drum and each shoe at top and bottom. I do not beleive that slot is on the M101 drums because it is a parking brake. You can "adjust by feel", but the issue will be that you will have uneven engagement and wear on the shoes, and each wheel grabbing differently. I don't think there is any other way though if you have no slots IMHO.

[RMS]

I always adjust by feel. I start the proses with one wheel jacked, loosen off the cam adjuster lock nuts then point the arrows on the cams so they point at each other 3 and 9 o'clock. next i bring the top of the shoes in all the way by way of the top adjusters. with the top of the shoe in I then turn the cams towards 6 O'clock with the wheel spinning till i hear a slight drag then back off a smidgen . (usually the drag appears with the cam arrows pointing at 4 and . next i tighten the cam adjuster bolts and move on to the top adjusters, with the wheel spinning i bring the top of the shoe out till it drag's then back off a bit. repeat on all wheels then check the pedal height. if the pedal is low (assuming the mc rod is adjusted properly) I increase the drag evenly on all wheels till the desired pedal height is reached.

[Gerry]

Thanks for the info. Sounds easy enough.

[RMS]

(usually the drag appears with the cam arrows pointing at 4 and .

........ 4 and .......

Doh! should have put a space between the 8 and )