Thanks for the handbrake adjusting tips Dennis.

Yeah I might pull the wheels and add a shim. I did do that mod years ago on my previous van.

Going over the van this weekend in prep for a trip.

Alistair 

> On Aug 13, 2022, at 7:21 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> So for adjusting the handbrake, don’t try by feel. Pull the drums and just take up the slack to the levers. If the lever holds any pressure against the push rod, adjuster screw the self adjuster will not work properly.  Note the wear pattern on the shoes. If you see limited contact at the top that is real friction surface. Extended that contact patch is the point of shimming out the bottom, especially for the rear trailing shoe. The front leading shoe does get forced down di to the rotation of the drum which extends the contact patch there. 
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of Alistair Bell
> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2022 8:37 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Rear brake self adjusting
> 
> You know I replaced trailing arms awhile back. Also replaced brake lines, the correct slave cyl, hardware that looked bad, and freed up the lower drum mount.
> 
> And I got the brakes assembled the right way, I’m pretty sure.
> 
> One side though , I didn’t adjust the shoes as tight as I should to the drums. It’s a little awkward, no excuse , on Syncro… lack of free wheel with only one wheel up….
> 
> And Dennis, the parking brake was fully fully loose.
> 
> So I thought I’d see if it would adjust by itself over time and use. Was slow , but the pedal firmed up, worked out ok, but I’m not saying I did right thing. Just saying the self adjusting worked .
> 
> Have to tighten up hand brake a bit.
> 
> Oh and I didn’t shim the lower shoe pivots as Dennis has spoken about. They are freed up, but for some reason I didn’t do the shim. My bad.
> 
> And I didn’t take the drums ti work to probe diameter in the mill. Meant to, didn’t . I’m sure they are close to if not beyond wear spec.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Ab