Brake adjustments

Ken B

Ken B

Senior Member
I don't know if anyone else has tried this method for adjusting brakes. After redoing my brakes, I use a temperature gun to balance them out. I get them close using the standard methods and follow up with measuring the temperature of the drums after driving and applying the brakes hard a few times. I stop and take the temperature of the drums. I adjust the coolest one in a click or adjust the hottest one out a click. Once the temperatures are all similar, the brakes grab very good. I also check the temperature of the drums without hard braking to see if one is binding. This has worked out well for me on the last few brake jobs.
 
I also have used the temperature gun to help in the brake adjusting and have found it works very well. I give it a thumbs up!!
 
I bought mine at harbor freight abt $18.00
on sale . Been using it for years.
great for brakes and finding hot spots on radiator! Checking head temperature.
 
Yep, been using one myself. the light bulb came on in my head when a few years back one of the long term club members told me that as young man he worked in a ford garage and using their hands to check temperature of the brake drums....
 
After installing new lining on all four, I leave the front brake rods unconnected; adjust rear shoes until just lightly touching the drum. Find a smooth paved road (not busy) and traveling about 15 MPH, make an emergency stop. Rear wheels should lock up and leave skid marks of equal length and car should not pull left or right. Check rear drums for heat and adjust accordingly, continue same test until wheels lock up and car skids straight and shoes release and drums are not hot. Return home, connect front brake rods and test braking. Remember , on the A, 60 % braking is on the rear and 40% on the front.

When setting up brake system, always start at the brake pedal to brake cross shaft, adjust rod so cross shaft is vertical at each end, then adjust brake rods to fit the cross shaft. I always loosen the return springs so I'm not fighting them to adjust the brake rods. This has worked for me, probable someone else has found an easier way.
 
Yes, I have been promoting the heat gun method fairly regularly on this board for the past four years or so. I love playing with the infra red gun. I also use it to check the radiator temps in various locations on the radiator. I use it on my diesel boat to check the glow plugs, too.
 
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