Rear drums

D

dean hanson

New member
Apr 26, 2001
256
0
0
Any suggestions on how to make a tough job easier? I would like to add
'holes' in the back of the drums to adjust my rear brakes.

Ideas please.



Dean C. Hanson 75 Avion coming back to life.

P.O.Box 2096

Fremont, Ca. 94536

(510) 657-9600

 
There are knockouts in the backing plates for that. Just punch them out with a hammer and an old screwdriver or punch and there they are. You can
buy rubber plugs to close them up with again.
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
 
If the knock-outs are in your backing plates, just knock them out. If not,
you will have to either replace the backing plates, or compare yours to
ones with the slots, drill them and finish the slots by hand. There have
been enough disc brake conversions out there that there might be some used
backing plates out there for a reasonable price if $$$ is a problem.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 9:45 AM Dean Hanson via Gmclist <

> Any suggestions on how to make a tough job easier? I would like to add
> 'holes' in the back of the drums to adjust my rear brakes.
>
> Ideas please.
>
>
>
> Dean C. Hanson 75 Avion coming back to life.
>
> P.O.Box 2096
>
> Fremont, Ca. 94536
>
> (510) 657-9600
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
I've never seen a backing plate without removable plugs for the adjuster to fit. However, if yours don't have the holes, xspeak to anyone here who
has converted to rear disks.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
Correct me if I am wrong but the knock-outs in the backing plates are used
to pull the shoes inward so that drums can be removed once a grove has been
worn into the drum from the shoes. Shoes auto adjust everytime you stop
when backing up. You just have to have them pretty close when you initially
put them on.

Rich

On Tue, Sep 17, 2019 at 10:36 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

> I've never seen a backing plate without removable plugs for the adjuster
> to fit. However, if yours don't have the holes, xspeak to anyone here who
> has converted to rear disks.
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> in hell
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Most people don’t back the GMC enough and also hard enough to adjust them.
When I had drum brakes about once a month or two I used to find a large empty parking lot and get my GMC backing up at 10 mph or more and slam on the brakes. I would repeat this about 10 times and then my braking would really improve.

Emery Stora

>
> Correct me if I am wrong but the knock-outs in the backing plates are used
> to pull the shoes inward so that drums can be removed once a grove has been
> worn into the drum from the shoes. Shoes auto adjust everytime you stop
> when backing up. You just have to have them pretty close when you initially
> put them on.
>
> Rich
>
> On Tue, Sep 17, 2019 at 10:36 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

>
>> I've never seen a backing plate without removable plugs for the adjuster
>> to fit. However, if yours don't have the holes, xspeak to anyone here who
>> has converted to rear disks.
>>
>> --johnny
>> --
>> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
>> Braselton, Ga.
>> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
>> in hell
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Not all coaches were equipped with self adjusters. Nor were they all the
same when it came to those slots. Don't know, and don't care much when
these changes occurred during production. I just look at the backing
plates. If the slots are there, so much the better. If not, I just put some
in.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 9:01 AM Rich Kinas via Gmclist <

> Correct me if I am wrong but the knock-outs in the backing plates are used
> to pull the shoes inward so that drums can be removed once a grove has been
> worn into the drum from the shoes. Shoes auto adjust everytime you stop
> when backing up. You just have to have them pretty close when you initially
> put them on.
>
> Rich
>
> On Tue, Sep 17, 2019 at 10:36 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

>
> > I've never seen a backing plate without removable plugs for the adjuster
> > to fit. However, if yours don't have the holes, xspeak to anyone here
> who
> > has converted to rear disks.
> >
> > --johnny
> > --
> > Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> > Braselton, Ga.
> > I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> > in hell
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
James, I have never seen a GMC that was not equipped with the self adjusting rear brakes. Has anyone else here ever seen that?

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick CO

>
> Not all coaches were equipped with self adjusters. Nor were they all the
> same when it came to those slots. Don't know, and don't care much when
> these changes occurred during production. I just look at the backing
> plates. If the slots are there, so much the better. If not, I just put some
> in.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Oregon
>
> On Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 9:01 AM Rich Kinas via Gmclist <

>
>> Correct me if I am wrong but the knock-outs in the backing plates are used
>> to pull the shoes inward so that drums can be removed once a grove has been
>> worn into the drum from the shoes. Shoes auto adjust everytime you stop
>> when backing up. You just have to have them pretty close when you initially
>> put them on.
>>
>> Rich
>>
>> On Tue, Sep 17, 2019 at 10:36 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

>>
>>> I've never seen a backing plate without removable plugs for the adjuster
>>> to fit. However, if yours don't have the holes, xspeak to anyone here
>> who
>>> has converted to rear disks.
>>>
>>> --johnny
>>> --
>>> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
>>> Braselton, Ga.
>>> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
>>> in hell
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Like I said, I don't know where or when. I have encountered it more than
once. Don't know if it was early or late in production, and when I
encounter it, I fix it.I have never given it much thought.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or.

On Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 9:19 AM Emery Stora via Gmclist <

> James, I have never seen a GMC that was not equipped with the self
> adjusting rear brakes. Has anyone else here ever seen that?
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Frederick CO
>
> > On Sep 17, 2019, at 10:14 AM, James Hupy via Gmclist <

> >
> > Not all coaches were equipped with self adjusters. Nor were they all the
> > same when it came to those slots. Don't know, and don't care much when
> > these changes occurred during production. I just look at the backing
> > plates. If the slots are there, so much the better. If not, I just put
> some
> > in.
> > Jim Hupy
> > Salem, Oregon
> >
> > On Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 9:01 AM Rich Kinas via Gmclist <

> >
> >> Correct me if I am wrong but the knock-outs in the backing plates are
> used
> >> to pull the shoes inward so that drums can be removed once a grove has
> been
> >> worn into the drum from the shoes. Shoes auto adjust everytime you stop
> >> when backing up. You just have to have them pretty close when you
> initially
> >> put them on.
> >>
> >> Rich
> >>
> >> On Tue, Sep 17, 2019 at 10:36 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

> >>
> >>> I've never seen a backing plate without removable plugs for the
> adjuster
> >>> to fit. However, if yours don't have the holes, xspeak to anyone here
> >> who
> >>> has converted to rear disks.
> >>>
> >>> --johnny
> >>> --
> >>> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> >>> Braselton, Ga.
> >>> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to
> me
> >>> in hell
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> GMCnet mailing list
> >>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >>>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> GMCnet mailing list
> >> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
On more than a single occasion, I have encountered vehicles that have had the automatic adjusters removed. I advised the owner that this was not the
best plan...

I am not under the coach just now (Duh), but I am also remembering that some backing plates had two knock outs or adjuster slots. This was to
accommodate the different assembly for the two sides. I don't recall of GMCs had two choices or not.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
Never saw one. The plates are different.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
There were GMC shops that were pulling them off and not advising customers
of the mods.
They do work, but one need to do like what Emory mentioned in order to get
max performance .
Lack of use is again the issue.

On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 5:50 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

> Never saw one. The plates are different.
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> in hell
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Every 60's GM vehicle I have worked on had self adjusting rear drums. Since this was the 70's and GM's flagship vehicle I cannot imagine they did not
all come with self adjusting rear drums. I can only think some previous "mechanic" couldn't be bothered with the " complexity" and as a rule, when
people don't understand a system, they circumvent it.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
Next time I encounter a GMC motorhome that has NO SLOTS in the backing
plates, I will FOR SURE take pictures and post them on the photo site. I
didn't think that it was that unusual, apparently I was in error.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Wed, Sep 18, 2019, 7:16 AM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <

> Every 60's GM vehicle I have worked on had self adjusting rear drums.
> Since this was the 70's and GM's flagship vehicle I cannot imagine they did
> not
> all come with self adjusting rear drums. I can only think some previous
> "mechanic" couldn't be bothered with the " complexity" and as a rule, when
> people don't understand a system, they circumvent it.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
I had to bust out the slots with a cold chisel in our Palm Beach. Then buy
plugs.

bdub

On Wed, Sep 18, 2019, 9:47 AM James Hupy via Gmclist <

> Next time I encounter a GMC motorhome that has NO SLOTS in the backing
> plates, I will FOR SURE take pictures and post them on the photo site. I
> didn't think that it was that unusual, apparently I was in error.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Oregon
>
> On Wed, Sep 18, 2019, 7:16 AM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <

>
> > Every 60's GM vehicle I have worked on had self adjusting rear drums.
> > Since this was the 70's and GM's flagship vehicle I cannot imagine they
> did
> > not
> > all come with self adjusting rear drums. I can only think some previous
> > "mechanic" couldn't be bothered with the " complexity" and as a rule,
> when
> > people don't understand a system, they circumvent it.
> > --
> > John Lebetski
> > Woodstock, IL
> > 77 Eleganza II
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GMCMI Spring 2026 Rally
Get your shine on at www.cruzingear.co

Share this page

Share this page
Top Bottom
Back