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I can't get a brake!

34isgreat

Member
Set out for work today in the stang, 40 mile drive one way. Made it 20 miles and then found I had little to no brakes! Inside of left front wheel is covered with break fluid. Made it back home driving VERY slowly. Not sure what happened, will pull the wheel off when I get back home tonight. Wheel cylinders and break shoes were new 2 years ago, only about 1000 miles on the break system.
 
My stang left me for the first time a couple weeks ago. Starter decided it had had enough. Crap happens when you least expect it for sure. Sounds like a wheel cylinder so at least its a cheap fix. Good luck
 
All parts were new two years ago and only have 1500 miles on breaks. Took wheel off and found star adjuster was closed up all the way, not sure how that happened??? If I had put it in backwards could that make it close up and then drop out from between the brake shoes???
 
I never did a ford brake drum setup, but on my chebby, the adjusters are side specific. If you put them on the opposite sides, I beleiver they would unwind as opposed to tightening up. I'm pretty sure one adjuster has right hand threads, the other side's adjuster has left hand threads.

Check to see if the adjusters are marked Right / Left...
 
Well new brake shoes arrived, I am ashamed to tell what I found wrong, let's just say I made a ID10T error. With new shoes installed brake peddle now stops a good two inches from floor with all four wheels adjusted correctly.
 
Oh please don't hold such secrets.................and tell us what you found so we can learn.................and maybe giggle just a little????
 
Let's just say that in this day of the internet, I have no excuse for the mistake I made. Anyone can do a 4 wheel drum brake job with the instructions available on the internet today!
 
"34isgreat" said:
Let's just say that in this day of the internet, I have no excuse for the mistake I made. Anyone can do a 4 wheel drum brake job with the instructions available on the internet today!
Fess up already. Don't make me retract my nomination of your car for COTM. :roll
 
Come on, fill us in on the mistake! We all need to laugh at someone elses expense every now and then. Lord knows I've been (and will continue to be) laughed at...every day here.
 
Ok, enjoy!

mistakes...
a. drivers side self adjuster installed backwards.
b. both primary brake shoes installed on drivers side, secondary shoes installed on passanger side
 
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