Greetings Everyone!
I bought my 97 XJ in January. Left rear drum was not engaging. I replaced both wheel cylinders, shoes, left drum, and a new hardware kit. After putting it all together (I HATE DRUM BRAKES) I was getting a loud scraping noise from the left drum. Pinpointed it to the little metal adjuster arm. The back edge of it was sticking out past the shoes and wearing a groove into the new drum! It is the part that adjusts the star to adjust the brakes as they wear. I believe the E brake cable hooks onto it as well. I tried my best to adjust the cable a little higher but it looks like everything is in place correctly.
The scraping noise is slightly better but still there. Have any of you experienced this? How can I fix this? Could the adjuster just be from a cheap kit and not the right size?
I bought my 97 XJ in January. Left rear drum was not engaging. I replaced both wheel cylinders, shoes, left drum, and a new hardware kit. After putting it all together (I HATE DRUM BRAKES) I was getting a loud scraping noise from the left drum. Pinpointed it to the little metal adjuster arm. The back edge of it was sticking out past the shoes and wearing a groove into the new drum! It is the part that adjusts the star to adjust the brakes as they wear. I believe the E brake cable hooks onto it as well. I tried my best to adjust the cable a little higher but it looks like everything is in place correctly.
The scraping noise is slightly better but still there. Have any of you experienced this? How can I fix this? Could the adjuster just be from a cheap kit and not the right size?
CF Veteran
Hard to say without seeing it. Got the old one to match up with? Also you can buy the self adjuster lever by itself for under $4. Maybe take the problem one and match it up with one at the parts store
I hate drum brakes to after working on them too many years. I've got to replace everything on my '96 rear brake system anyway so I believe I'm going this route.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f71/di...on-kit-159484/
I hate drum brakes to after working on them too many years. I've got to replace everything on my '96 rear brake system anyway so I believe I'm going this route.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f71/di...on-kit-159484/
Senior Member
There should be a small spring that holds that adjuster lever on a small stud. The stud has a grove to keep the spring on. Pictures help us help you!