Michael952

I replaced my brakes all the way around and now my parking brake doesn't work at all.
Do I just need to adjust the drums?

MtnHermit

Are you saying you didn't adjust the rear brakes after replacing the brake shoes?

RTorrez1

You need to adjust the brakes not the drum and you need to adjust the brakes any time you put new bakes on.

MtnHermit

Well not any time, I didn't adjust my front disc pads after replacing them, the hydraulic fluid took care of the adjustment. I'll bet you didn't either.

diego94

its called a star adjuster, there is a hole in the back of the drum setup (axle side on the bottom) .... find an old flat screw driver you don't care about and bend it alittle (15-20 degrees ish) and stick it in the hole, the star adjuster is kinda like a gear you are going to turn with the screw driver through the hole to tighten up the park brake so it will work right....
this pic isn't of a Cherokee just a random off google that will explain.



the star adjuster is the thing between the pads under that green spring,,, on the left you cant realy see in this pic but there are some teeth and a hole behind... that's what you need to tighten

RTorrez1

Well the rear brake you do have to adjust the front disc you don't because ther is no adjustment other then to bleed them. I you would have read his post he said drums!

Michael952

Well not that drums but the adjuster lol. I've never changed brake shoes so bare with me fellas

Radi

OK, I poured hydraulic fluid on my brakes and nothing adjusted. In fact they are worse than before. What did I do wrong?

Radi

That might be the problem. I never do brake work bare. Engine work, sure. Who doesn't?


I agree BTW with adjusting the rear brakes. You did put the crossover bar (runs from the parking brake lever to the opposite shoe) back in correctly I assume?

RTorrez1

Not a problem. Just take your time and do just like you did and ask for advise. You can get some good advice on here. But a few can give advice that shouldn't. Like this. "Well not any time, I didn't adjust my front disc pads after replacing them, the hydraulic fluid took care of the adjustment. I'll bet you didn't either. "
No kidding!!! LOL
We need a section for all of the Bad Advice!

Radi

Well, he's right in that disk brakes are self-adjusting. No disks on the OP's rear axle though.
The way it was worded though made me think 'someone's gonna get the DOT3 and make a real mess' lol.

Michael952

i did indeed, i'll adjust them in the morning then go get it inspected

MtnHermit

You got it all wrong. You're supposed to pour it on your head, ignite it, then jump around like a funky chicken. If you have any hair, unlikely, then it'll work even better.

Radi

I haven't had hair since the 90's. Mr Bic takes care of that.
Last time I did the funky chicken I was welding without thick enough pants. That wasn't a good day.

Michael952

got it fixed. forgot to pop the plates into the shoes lol