Thanks for the link.

That's the other thing I paid attention to. Heat at the bearings. The area
at near axle nut hardly even felt warm but then that doesn't indicate a
whole lot given your brake drum comment.
I was ever vigilant of excessive bearing heat given that it was my first
time torquing those big nuts down. And, they're likely the original
bearings.

The last thing I want to do is ruin good parts but I may just drive the bus
and see what happens.
I'll do what I can first though.

The drums never got hot enough to make the shoe linings smell funny or
create expensive smoke.

Neil.

On Sunday, May 22, 2016, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> The tool you want is common and anyone doing drum brakes should have one
> like this:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/AMPRO-T71558-Brake-Resetting-Gauge/dp/B00A8FOEFE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463971144&sr=8-1&keywords=brake+drum+gauge
>
> Measuring temperature at the face of the drum will be very misleading.
> There will also be some heat from the bearings.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> <javascript:;>] On Behalf Of Neil N
> Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2016 2:56 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <javascript:;>
> Subject: Re: Setting E-brake causes adjuster to adjust? Hot Drums.
>
> Very helpful info Dennis. Yes my thought was that IF I remove material at
> shoe metal, I'd do so at shoe bottom. Regardless, doing so would be a last
> resort.
> I'm loath to remove any material but want to achieve the 1.5 mm Bentley
> spec.
> I'll try to make a better tool for measuring mounted shoe diameter and
> drum ID but testing shows I'm getting constant drag.
>
> I'm not certain my infrared "gun" is getting accurate readings via the
> hole in wheel.
> Time taken to remove a wheel may not allow the drum to cool that much?
>
> A quick search on the 'net indicates that 100º F is not that hot for drums
> *after* use.
> Some see 300º F after hard test braking.
> But sustained temps above ambient, well......
> After my first bought of testing, the drums did show what *might* be
> slight heat damage as did shoes. I cleaned up the drums and shoes. There is
> no brake pulsing as it was when parts were new.
>
> Image of possible heat damage to drum and shoes.
>
> Drum       http://tinyurl.com/zevgfs9
>
> shoes:   http://tinyurl.com/gtc76n6    http://tinyurl.com/jvec8vg
>
> "cleaned up" shoe  http://tinyurl.com/jbg34xe drum after light emery
> cloth: http://tinyurl.com/zbafhuu
>
> On 5/22/16, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com <javascript:;>> wrote:
> > If you do insist on grinding take it off the bottom. Looking at the
> > wear pattern you showed you need to let the shoes seat and then you
> > will have room. Back in the days of manually adjusted shoes we set
> > them for just a touch of drag to get them seated. Disc brakes drag all
> > the time. Keep in mind that when you do use the brakes, it takes some
> > time for the heat at the drum-shoe interface to travel to the outside.
> >
> > If the wheels turn free after releasing the handbrake you are probably
> > good to go.
> >
> > As for the handbrake pushing the brakes out even with the pedal down,
> > yes that is normal especially on new shoes. Pressure to the rear
> > brakes is regulated. With the van raised in the rear the regulator
> > kicks even even further as it thinks the van is nose diving. It works
> > both on inertia and angle. Using the handbrake will push the shoes out
> > and with them not seated that will wedge,, distort the drum, etc and
> > move out letting the brake pedal sink a bit more. I just did a van
> > with the GoWesty HD drums and it is amazing how different the
> > handbrake and service brakes work. Now installing the front big brake
> kit on that van.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>
>
> 1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>
>
> 1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>
>
> Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>
>

-- 
Neil n

Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>

1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>

1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>

Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>