Thanks again to all the helpful comments that are posted in response to this and other questions, as these have been extremely helpful in my quest to bring back to life our 1980 international. We just recently purchased our 1980 International and upon trying to get it declared street legal in Virginia, I took it for its safety inspection. It failed due to the fact that the electric brake magnets were shot, worn down well past seeing wire. After some helpful suggestions on this post, I ordered all new brakes, magnets, drums and such from a popular online supplier. I put the NevR Adjust Brakes on exactly as per the dealers instructions, tightening until the wheel cannot turn and then backing it off 10 clicks. Trailered them for a while testing them out and they seemed to be much improved from what the trailer came with. Upon taking the trailer to the same inspector, his first statement was these won’t pass, because when I spin the wheel with the trailer jacked up and the brakes not applied the wheel should only turn 2 or 3 turns before coming to a stop. I thought «Wow» are you serious? What about the drag that you are suggesting I should always be putting on my AS wheels having the brakes so tight? After I told him I would pay for him to tighten the brakes a couple more clicks until they would pass, he told me he would pass me if I promised to do such when I returned home. Thanks I said. So here I am and my question is just this: Should the brakes be so tight that upon spinning the wheel as hard as I can it stops after only 2 or 3 turns without the brakes being applied? This seems counter intuitive. Any help is appreciated .
Wise Elder
2010 30′ Classic
Vintage Kin vlastník
South of the river , Minnesota
Datum připojení: prosinec 2009
Příspěvky: 4,169
Since you have self-adjusting brakes they should do so themselves, if needed, if you apply the brakes lightly and release them several times. You may have to do it while driving in reverse.
With brakes that are not self-adjusting there is a range of settings that different mechanics will use. As long as the brakes don’t drag enough to heat up it shouldn’t matter much.
Nýtovací mistr
2005 19′ Safari
GLENDALE, AZ
Připojit Datum: srpen 2004
Příspěvky: 2,453
In the old days when all cars had drum brakes, we used to spin a wheel and tighten the adjuster until the wheel stopped. Then, while turning it again, we’d back off the adjuster a couple of clicks until the wheel would turn relatively freely with very slight audible drag (one or two revolutions). This slight drag is insignificant to the amount of rolling and wind resistance when underway; and after a couple of stops in traffic, the high spots will have worn off.
This method insured that the minimum brake shoe-to-drum clearance was achieved, and all brakes had approximately the same (contact) gap.
Not sure if this method is specified for Airstreams, but I don’t think drum brake technology has changed much in the past few decades.
