Grant? Ru an all around Brake guy?

[felonicity]

HI~ I'm registered here and lazy by nature, so if this is out of the realm of what is intended no problem if it gets deleted or goes unanswered. My 240SX is down waiting on a starter to ship, so I'm working on my 16yr. olds 1965 Ford.

The car has drum brakes all around and someone I am never sure whether or not to trust told me that those drum brakes can be adjusted by driving in reverse up to about 10-15mph and then hitting the brakes real hard. I wonder if you are knowledgable all around on such matters, is this true, can they be adjusted like that?

Thank You

[Grant@tirerack]

Some of the newer drum brake systems have what are called self adjusting brakes. You usually tell by looking at them because most will have a small triangle shaped wedge hooked to a spring at the top of the brake shoe levers. As the break compound wears the spring pulls the wedge down to tighten up the levers. Older style brakes (which I am betting this car has) will have a set of star shaped gears on the bottom of the shoes that can be adjusted through the holes in the backing plate. I don't think those are self adjusting. Only the newer style brakes will loosen up the levers and allow the spring to pull down the wedge.

[maxnix]

Some of the older 1960 cars did. However, if they do, do be sure you are running straight and true when you reverse and brake.

If you are swinging in a radius, they will be mis-adjusted.

Drum brakes are tricky, and I would make sure anyone driving such a vehicle understands their limitations.