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Thread: Drum brakes

  1. #1
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    Drum brakes

    I have been blaming the redarc pro controller for the erratic caravan brakes..


    But how do drum brakes perform if never adjusted? or running low on shoe/pad/friction material?


    The van brakes only ever apply flat out, there is no gentle brake application.
    Yes the redarc is set to proportional.

    The van is only 4 years old and is a dual axle 4 wheel 12" brake setup, though weight is 3.1T
    could they be worn out? no funny noises or wheel locking/pulling to one side.
    "How long since you've visited The Good Oil?"

    '93 V8 Rossi
    '97 to '07. sold.
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    '06 to 10. written off.
    '03 4.6 V8 HSE D2a with Tornado ECM
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    1988 Isuzu Bus. V10 15L NA Diesel
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  2. #2
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    Yes they need regular servicing and adjustment.

  3. #3
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    Yes unlike disc brakes that are self adjusting...they need adjustment. The old rule of thumb used to be... wind the adjuster up until it was tight then back it off half a turn. I still jack them up and do the adjusters up, then back them off until I can spin the wheel.

  4. #4
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    Adjust,
    but if they are very much out of adjustment, it’s a convenient time to pull the hubs, regrease bearings, clean, inspect etc….while the linings are clear of the drums and easy to get off.
    '93 D1 V8 auto
    '93 D1 200Tdi 2-door, ARB's, MD transfer, sill tanks, winch, 2"lift.......
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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift View Post
    I have been blaming the redarc pro controller for the erratic caravan brakes..


    But how do drum brakes perform if never adjusted? or running low on shoe/pad/friction material?


    The van brakes only ever apply flat out, there is no gentle brake application.
    Yes the redarc is set to proportional.

    The van is only 4 years old and is a dual axle 4 wheel 12" brake setup, though weight is 3.1T
    could they be worn out? no funny noises or wheel locking/pulling to one side.
    Do you know how many K's the van has done?
    Personally I would be taking the van into a brake specialist's and get the bearings inspected/replaced at the same time
    You only get one shot at life, Aim well

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  6. #6
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    The electro-magnets that apply the brakes can also wear and sometimes need to be replaced.

    With electric brake units there is usually a potentiometer that adjusts the rate of initial application of the brakes (digital or proportional). I'm not familiar with the Redarc but usually you head out for a drive and apply brakes several times while seeing whether the caravan tries to pull up the car or tries to push the car. By adjusting you get to a point where it's braking at roughly the same rate as the car.

    Colin
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
    '65 Series IIa Dormobile
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    Motorcycles :-
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  7. #7
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    Few things could be wrong, brake magnet stuffed, back of magnet worn and turning on arm when applying, broken wire and one or two brakes working short in A frame brake wire.
    Badly adjusted, as mentioned do up till firm, BUT, back off 10 turns, rotate hub if still dragging back off a couple more till spins freely.
    Can also be out of shape backing plate from new.
    I’d take it caravan repair and book it in

  8. #8
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    Thanks every one, I do understand they need adjustment.
    I had the bearings serviced before we left, if the brakes were worn wouldnt the Mech have mentioned it?

    anyway,
    The badly worded question was--

    do drum brakes still work properly if out of adjustment,

    I have to provoke them to get them to work on the highway, and its always the same amount of braking.

    No, I have no idea on distance the van has travelled, though its never had a flat, and the tyres still had lots of tread before they failed.

    I might take a wheel off....
    "How long since you've visited The Good Oil?"

    '93 V8 Rossi
    '97 to '07. sold.
    '01 V8 D2
    '06 to 10. written off.
    '03 4.6 V8 HSE D2a with Tornado ECM
    '10 to '21
    '16.5 RRS SDV8
    '21 to Infinity and Beyond!


    1988 Isuzu Bus. V10 15L NA Diesel
    Home is where you park it..

    [IMG][/IMG]

  9. #9
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    can you see shoe thickness without removing the wheel/drum?
    "How long since you've visited The Good Oil?"

    '93 V8 Rossi
    '97 to '07. sold.
    '01 V8 D2
    '06 to 10. written off.
    '03 4.6 V8 HSE D2a with Tornado ECM
    '10 to '21
    '16.5 RRS SDV8
    '21 to Infinity and Beyond!


    1988 Isuzu Bus. V10 15L NA Diesel
    Home is where you park it..

    [IMG][/IMG]

  10. #10
    JDNSW's Avatar
    JDNSW is offline RoverLord Silver Subscriber
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    do drum brakes still work properly if out of adjustment,

    No

    can you see shoe thickness without removing the wheel/drum?


    No.
    John

    JDNSW
    1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
    1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol

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