Hi, my self adjustment wire in both the drum brakes are snapped, can i just remove the wire and adjust it manually in the future? I think it has been like this for years.

 

Not a good idea go buy new hardware and self adjuster kits one for left and one for right so they adjust the right way.

 

Drum rebuild kit is less than $20, do it right the first time.

 

Agreed ^. That's not expensive stuff. Not a place to get creative or save a buck. Also your insurance or somebody might hold it against you if something went really wrong, weather that was an issue or not.

The "self adjusters" usually don't work, but you should have all that installed correctly anyway. Just my .02.

 

thanks for the replies, but it wasn't really what I was looking for. Is it possible to adjust it manually or does it do something when braking(except maybe adjust stuff)
I will eventually get around to changing the whole thing, but I have limited time these next few months and I live in Norway so shipping is 6x as much as the parts themself.

 

The self adjuster does not adjust it, it stops is from adjusting out of spec.

Its primarily necessary.

 

U need that cable for resistance on the spring from the other side. Yes if u pop out the rubber boot from the axle side u can adjust it with a flathead screwdriver

 

Who still has the rubber dust grommets? I've been trying to buy them for months! Hey Norway, PM me and I'll mail you the kits.

 

Autozone sells the boots new. Wish I would have known sooner my old ones were still good but I threw them away woulda gave em to ya

 

hardware kit at advanced comes with new rubbers adjuster kit is seperate

 

No - if you want to adjust it manually you have to use a manual type adjuster.

The reason some self adjusters don't work is they were not reassembled right, and not initially adjusted properly to start with.

You have to know what you are doing when working on brakes. Most DIY'ers don't.

 

So, I took a second look at some web sites and found a cheap kit from Rockauto.com with decent shipping prices. It will get her on Monday and I will change everything. Hopefully my dad can give me some pointers on how to properly adjust it all.

 

Yes, you most definitely can adjust them manually... thru the hole in the backing plate... with a brake adjusting spoon or a flat tip screwdriver to rotate the starwheel. Brakes had to be periodically adjusted manually before the invention of self-adjusters (which, btw, on XJs are notorious for not "self-adjusting", mostly due to rust).

EDIT: Just to clarify, this is not a recommendation to not repair the brakes properly with a rebuild kit...just saying that they can be adjusted manually...that is the purpose of the access hole in the backing plate.

 

Some thoughts . . .

I just replaced the front disc pads and adjusted the rear drums. Both rear drums were grossly out of adjustment. My 1997 has self adjusters and they are/were useless. I turned both star wheels more than 2-turns, should have needed only a few notches. I kept turning until I could just get the drum back on.

Those changes made a huge change in the brake pedal, didn't have to move as much fluid to engage the brakes.

Bottom line, yes you can and should manually adjust the rear brake shoes.

Best of luck on your repair.