Date:         Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:52:42 -0700
Reply-To:     neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Rear brake shoes affect MPG.
Comments: To: Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net>
In-Reply-To:  <000501c92318$28658960$4001a8c0@gateway.2wire.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Re shoe adjustment. I have to admit. Adjusting the rears is not my
favorite thing to do. To me there appears to be a little "black magic"
involved, but of course, there isn't.

Give em time Don. My new shoes (w/new hardware and new-ish drums) took
a while to break in. (pun intended) Also I found that even one or two
clicks on the adjuster made a big difference. Once the shoes break in
I'm sure a final adjustment can be made.

btw, did you put lube on the contact points? I put a little dab of
antiseize at these points (shoe at backing plate, bottom anchors)

Cheers,

Neil.

On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 9:18 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote:
> Recently I changed the shoes on my 84 Inline 4-powered van.  I have been
> having a tough time getting the shoes adjusted, for various reasons.  The
> shoes 'wanted' to be tightly adjusted in order to give me a decent brake
> pedal feel..Dragging slightly on the drums.  I've been fiddling with them
> for a few days now.
.....

> I know now that my
> rear brakes are too dang tight..(actually, I knew that from the heat I could
> feel at the rear wheels also, but..)  Before I take off on my planned 3k
> mile road trip, I will certainly ease off the rear shoes some more...Save
> $65 on my fuel bill for the drive by doing so..
>  Don Hanson
>