I am an above average shadetree mechanic but I cannot see how to manually adjust the rear drum brakes on my 2001 LX. The car has 60K miles and the rear brakes look like new. I suspect they are not doing much work, so I would like to manually adjust them. I had the drums off and don't have a clue. I have a factory manual, if it is in there, I have missed it.

 

at the top of shoes in the middle is a wheel cylinder there is a cogged gear with a stopper keeping it from rotating in one direction. Use a screw driver and rotate it (down I believe) to adjust the shoes outward. It'll only take a few clicks to adjust them....make sure to do the same number of clicks on each side though.

 

After that, they should self-adjust every time you use the parking brake. To keep the rear brakes in adjustment, use your handbrake every time you park.

 

You can give them more bite if you adjust then at the parking brake.
Look at your ebrake, now there should be a small part with a piece that you can pull out around the outside trim. NOt the rubber the hard plastic.

You can take that out and then manually adjust it using a 10mm deep socket. Adjust it untill the ebrake takes 5-10 clicks untill you cant pull up anymore. The less the more rear brake bias. From there they will auto adjust and hold that setting.

 

^no.
That adjusts your parking brake - it does not set brake bias. Only the master cylinder does that.

Drum brakes adjust when backing up and hittting the brakes hard. The parking brake does not.

Lube the adjusters and then adjust them until the drum barely fits back on and the shoes just contact the drum. Spin the wheels. They should roll freely.

Other than that there really isn't much else to do...

Remember - 80% of the braking force comes from the front.

 

Wholly shiznit! I feel like a total @ss! I never knew that there were brakes in drums. I always thought that if you have front brakes, that's it! I have 4 wheel disk brakes so that's how I always thought it was! Yet again I realize just how much I have yet to learn...

 

yep. In fact, "Back In The Day" cars had ONLY drum brakes! TVs were black and white too!

We played 'Pong' and THAT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR US! [geeze].

 

LOL
I think you forgot to mention that a dollar could buy you breakfast and lunch