Which Direction Do You Go When Adjusting Electric Drum Brakes

Updated 09/30/2021 | Published 09/29/2021

Question:

I turn the adjustment wheel up as stated in this article and on every video I watched. The brake never tightened so I started turning the wheel down. Eventually the wheel locked up and I then turned the wheel up to loosen the brake and allow the wheel to spin. My question … am I crazy or do some brakes require the adjustment wheel to be turned downward rather than upward?

asked by: Kenny Y

Helpful Expert Reply:

You are not crazy, some times the brakes will be turned down opposed to up for tightening. Drum brakes star wheel adjusters have directional teeth that will let you use an adjustment spoon like the Brake Adjustment Spoon for Drum Brakes # W80630 or flat head screw driver to catch the teeth better in one direction versus the other. You simply turn the adjuster a few times, if it does not stop turning due to the pads hitting the drum then you turn the star in the other direction (so it could be up or down). After the pads hit the drum, that is when you will then back off. Spin the drum with your hand and feel for any drag. The drum should spin freely with minimal drag. If too much drag is present continue to back off slowly, testing each time until it spins freely.

expert reply by: Scott S