What action activates the automatic rear brake adjuster? I have been told they adjust when applying the break while moving in reverse also been told the use of the parking brake does it. My parking brake goes down too far so i will manualy adjust, curious why they do not adjust automaticly.
1990 2WD

 

What I have come across in the past is that the cables, springs and the adjusting wheel get rusty over time. This happens at an accelerated rate if the adjustment hole does not have the cover in it. I usually replace all the hardware for the rear brakes every fourth brake job or as needed. Also make sure the adjustment wheel is well lubricated when reassembled. White grease is what I use.

As to what actually does the automatic adjusting, I can't say for sure on these trucks but, it used to be that going in reverse and applying the brakes was how that system worked.

 

replace rear brakes, found the cable in the drum came off the tensioner result no parking brake. decided to make one trip to napa so broke down bothe sides so i could turn in core at the same time. took some pic and notes was still a bit confusing but got them together. while cleaning all the parts i noticed that the star adjusters are side specific, just happen to notice L&R hand threads. they are marked on the end of the adjusting screw.

 

the rears adjust when going in reverse and you slam on the brakes if they adjusted when going forward you would have the brakes locking up

 

haha what a joke, the rear self adjusters on my 1994 club cab 4x4 have NEVER self adjusted. I know how they are supposed to work they just never have. When the truck was new the shoes were squeeking on the backing plates, I took it to the dealer, they adjusted the brakes manually, didn't even lube where the shoes meet the backing plates. They started squeeking soon after, I never took it back to them.

I adjust them every time I change the oil...for the last 17 years! The E brake doesnt hold at all in reverse, barley holds in the forward direction.

 

im just saying hell mine don't adjust and my truck is 4 years newer but they are "suppose to"

 

I have been wondering for the past 17 years if other people are having rear self adjusting brake problems on thier Dakotas now I know they are!

 

I've never seen self adjusting brakes work. I just pull the drums every once in a while and do it myself.

 

My first car was a '69 Ford Fairlane 500 and those seemed to work pretty well. I will be replacing all the hardware in the Dakota again in a few weeks, along with all of the cables for the parking brake. Although I don't know why, with the price of gas it's only going to sit in the driveway anyway...LOL!

 

i use high temp SILICONE BRAKE LUBE on all moving brake parts (it has no effect on the rubber in the calipers and wheel cylinders, regular grease will cause the rubber to swell and leak). i take the star wheels off, wipe them and relube them every brake job. i also put small amounts on the backing plate where the shoes contact, the caliper pins on the front. never had a squeek or adjusters freezing up (used it on my parking brake cables too)

BTW i took my wheel cylinders (one was seized) and calipers off. took them apart and used a very thin layer of SILICONE BRAKE LUBE to reassemble. now heres the important part, i swapped the regular dot 3 fluid over to silicone brake fluid in the system (the silicone lube in the calipers and wheel cylinders will NOT mix with regular brake fluid)

i'm around the salt ocean air and sand a lot so i had problem with calipers and wheel cylinders seizing. haven't had anything seize since i did it about 5 years ago. well worth the work and pretty cheap. a tube of silicone brake grease is about $6 at any auto parts store

IMPORTANT - if you swap the fluid make sure you flush the system with pure alcohol to get all the old fluid is out!