64 Brake Self Adjuster

[Neil L.]

I am trying to install brake self adjusters on my 64. They were removed from the car before I owned it. All of the manuals that I have, don't show a clear picture of the self adjuster pivot and the lever. Did I install these correctly?
I am having trouble installing the lever override spring. None of the springs in the kits that I have seem to be correct. Does anyone have a picture of this spring?
I searched the archives, but had no luck in opening any of the pictures that were posted.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 64 Brake Self Adjuster

Neil -- I know NOTHING about drum brakes, but examine these two original '64 pics (upper and lower views) to see if the set-up answers your questions. Can take more close-up views, if needed.

To others: note the difference in the drum brake spindle vs. disc.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 64 Brake Self Adjuster

Neil, Looking at Wayne's pictures there looks to be a spring missing on yours and that will probably center the adjusting latch over the small adjustment wheel.

Can someone post a pic of disc brake spindle so I can see difference

[Jim W.]

Re: 64 Brake Self Adjuster

I am trying to install brake self adjusters on my 64. They were removed from the car before I owned it. All of the manuals that I have, don't show a clear picture of the self adjuster pivot and the lever. Did I install these correctly?
I am having trouble installing the lever override spring. None of the springs in the kits that I have seem to be correct. Does anyone have a picture of this spring?
I searched the archives, but had no luck in opening any of the pictures that were posted.

Neil,
I,m no brake authority, but I think your missing a spring. These are my 64 originals.

[Joel T.]

Re: 64 Brake Self Adjuster

Question.... From the pictures, it appears that the adjuster lever, and hence the adjuster star wheel is to the rear as opposed to the front...can someone confirm this for me??

Thanks!!!

Joel

[Harry S.]

Re: 64 Brake Self Adjuster

Joel, they are different from Left side to right side as I recall. It had to do with the manual adjustment setting prior to backing up and letting the self-adjusters take over. Hopefully another member can add to this with the exact details.

[Harry S.]

Re: 64 Brake Self Adjuster

It's always good to go read the books instead of working from memory, so that's what I did. I have a new set of adjusters, spring , etc. to rebuild my 63 brake system if the snow ever melts. I opened the bags and looked at the adjusters, they are different in the way they are threaded.

There are two different adjusters (rights and lefts). Don't confuse them. The installation process says to face the adjustment star/wheel towards the secondary shoe. I take this to be aft. (shop manual, section 5)

[Jim W.]

Re: 64 Brake Self Adjuster

It's always good to go read the books instead of working from memory, so that's what I did. I have a new set of adjusters, spring , etc. to rebuild my 63 brake system if the snow ever melts. I opened the bags and looked at the adjusters, they are different in the way they are threaded.

There are two different adjusters (rights and lefts). Don't confuse them. The installation process says to face the adjustment star/wheel towards the secondary shoe. I take this to be aft. (shop manual, section 5)

Harry

All 4 of mine face rearward. Here are the other 3 pics

[Wayne M.]

Re: 64 Brake Self Adjuster

. ..Can someone post a pic of disc brake spindle so I can see difference

Tim -- here's a disc brake spindle. Note additional 5 holes for rivets hub-to-disc; also, 2 larger holes at 180 deg for adjusting parking brake, and the center hub configuration is different.

As well, there's a difference in axis dimensions, so that a '63-4 will fit on a disc brake car, but the disc will not be centered in the caliper (ask me how I know ). In '62-early '63, there were a few design iterations of the spindle (and maybe spindle support). These were highlighted in a Tech Service Bulletin.

[Dennis C.]

Re: 64 Brake Self Adjuster

Neil,

It's been awhile since I replaced drum brakes but I seem to recall the bottom spring, just above the star adjuster, being hooked from the front to the back. Your picture seems to show it from the rear to the front.

Not sure if this helps.

Regards,

Dennis

[Joel T.]

Re: 64 Brake Self Adjuster

It's always good to go read the books instead of working from memory, so that's what I did. I have a new set of adjusters, spring , etc. to rebuild my 63 brake system if the snow ever melts. I opened the bags and looked at the adjusters, they are different in the way they are threaded.

There are two different adjusters (rights and lefts). Don't confuse them. The installation process says to face the adjustment star/wheel towards the secondary shoe. I take this to be aft. (shop manual, section 5)

Hi Harry;

Thanks for looking this up.. I could never make sense of the pictures in the 1963 shop manual, ala which way was front. I know that the threads on the adjusters are different handed threads based on side. when I bought my brake parts from LI Corvette last winter it dawned to me that the "L" and "R" on the adjusters/packages were reverse from the typical convention meaning the "L" adjuster went on the right side of the car, etc.. this based on the way mine were installed when I got the car..

When I rebuilt the brakes last winter, I photographed each wheel before I took it apart... and put it together based upon the photo.. The *&%#%^* adjusters do not adjust and I am wondering if I have the blasted things in backwards!; i.e. star wheel facing front versus back.

At least I know which way everything should be oriented.. Tomorrow I will go out and see what I actually have going on... Since the car is already up in the air, with the rear end waiting to be re-installed, checking the brake orientation will be easy...

More to follow!

Thanks again,

Joel

[Neil L.]

Re: 64 Brake Self Adjuster

Thank you all for your replies. A picture is worth a thousand words. They were very helpful.

Neil

[Timothy B.]

Re: 64 Brake Self Adjuster

Thanks for the picture Wayne.

I replaced the spindles on my 63 long ago and I remember a different GM part # for the 63-4 car but never took the time to understand the differences from disc brake cars to drum. The rotor holes and parking brake holes make sense.

The spindles I purchased from GM look like your pic except no holes and those very small tits projecting out from inside the hub are not there. The other projections are there on mine.