DIY: Rear Brake(Shoe) adjustment(tightening)

Storm897 · 06-25-2004

DIY estimated time: 20 minites
Tools Needed: Flat head screw driver, Hammer (preferably rubber head hammer), 2 Jack stands, and a jack.

Step 1: Take of rear wheels. Once you have removed the wheels you will see what is found in the picture below:

Step 2: Bang the cover with a hammer where it says honda S5A and MAX*DIA*201MM. This will loosen the cover. I found the rubber headed hammer after I used the normal hammer

.

Step 3: Try pulling the drum cover off. If it still doesnt come off try hitting it a couple more times. I used the hammer to take the cover off as seen below.

If its still to tough to take the cover off use 8 x 1.25 bolts and place them in the two small holes as seen in the picture below and screw them into the hole clockwise. This will loosen the cover for sure.

Now take the cover off. You should see something that looks like the picture below:

Step 4: Clean the shoes by using a Brake Cleaner and Degreaser
Step 5: Loosen the screw circled in the picture below by turning it towards you. Make sure you make the screw move down. Down will loose the screw while Making the screw move upwards will tighten the screw. Loosening the screw makes the shoes expand slightly. Loosen the screw so the clip clicks once.

Step 6: Place Cover back on.
Step 7: Spin the cover by holding on to the bolts. The cover should spin 1-2 times completely around (I was told this by the Honda technician when I was at the shop for a headlight recall). If your drum cover spins more then 1-2 times, repeat step 5 & 6 until the drum cover rotates only 1-2 times completely.

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Sickboy · 06-25-2004

So the adjuster isn't opposite of the cylinder? Interesting.

zen_master · 06-25-2004

interesting!

however..

my problem right now is that when i PRESS down my brake pedal, the brake shoes/drum make a stretching noise..

is it possible that the screw are over-loosen??

Sickboy · 06-25-2004

Did you adjust them after install?

zen_master · 06-25-2004

what do you mean by , " Spin the cover by holding on to the bolts?"

can you explain how to do step 7 again?

zen_master · 06-25-2004

i think my mechanic turned them clockwise before putting them back after he replaced the brake shoes....is that ok?

Sickboy · 06-25-2004

Storm, on #7 didn't you mean to put the wheel back on and spin 1-2 revs, that's how we always do it. You should first step on the brake pedal to reset the shoes as well.

Storm897 · 06-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sickboy

Storm, on #7 didn't you mean to put the wheel back on and spin 1-2 revs, that's how we always do it. You should first step on the brake pedal to reset the shoes as well.

When I was at Hersons Honda (in Rockville, MD) I got my headlights fixed due to a recall and next to my car was another 2001 civic EX getting his shoes replaced. When the mechanic was adjusting the shoes he didnt place the wheel back on, he just put the drum cover back on and spun the drum cover by the bolts instead. I asked him how many rotations should a specific bolt (one of the four on your wheel) spin, and he said between 1-2. Less then 1 and its on to tight which will cause to much resistance when your car is in motion. To many rotations will cause your car to not stop correctly/fast enough.

Storm897 · 06-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by zen_master

what do you mean by , " Spin the cover by holding on to the bolts?"

can you explain how to do step 7 again?

Look at the picture below:

Spin the wheel clockwise by holding on to the bolts from your wheel. The wheel will spin. Hopefully not a lot.

zen_master · 06-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storm897

I asked him how many rotations should a specific bolt (one of the four on your wheel) spin, and he said between 1-2. Less then 1 and its on to tight which will cause to much resistance when your car is in motion. To many rotations will cause your car to not stop correctly/fast enough.

wait....

so how do you spin them?

by holding into one bolt and rotate them around?

so....u mean that after 1-2 rotation, the drum should STOP?

Sickboy · 06-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storm897

When I was at Hersons Honda (in Rockville, MD) I got my headlights fixed due to a recall and next to my car was another 2001 civic EX getting his shoes replaced. When the mechanic was adjusting the shoes he didnt place the wheel back on, he just put the drum cover back on and spun the drum cover by the bolts instead. I asked him how many rotations should a specific bolt (one of the four on your wheel) spin, and he said between 1-2. Less then 1 and its on to tight which will cause to much resistance when your car is in motion. To many rotations will cause your car to not stop correctly/fast enough.

Yeah, I've worked on more drum brakes than I'd like to remember so I know all about adjusting. However, I've always done it with the wheel on. My datsun's adjusters are external so I just jack it up and adjust until I feel the right amount of resistance. Datsun engineering>Civic engineering.

zen_master · 06-25-2004

correct me this: after 1 or 2 rev, the wheel (without applying brake/hand brake) should STOP?

zen_master · 06-25-2004

waitttttttt..

so you apply some force and let the wheel rotate by itself??

zen_master · 06-25-2004

ok damn, the driver's ok....two rotations..

the other side f*cked up, 5 rotations...

Storm897 · 06-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sickboy

Yeah, I've worked on more drum brakes than I'd like to remember so I know all about adjusting. However, I've always done it with the wheel on. My datsun's adjusters are external so I just jack it up and adjust until I feel the right amount of resistance. Datsun engineering>Civic engineering.

I guess you could do it with the tire on as well. I just did it with the the tire off.