Brake self adjusters - that don't

[Slugsie]

Why is it that the rear brake self adjusters don't adjust most of the time, and when they do they un-adjust? Each time I come back from an off-road trip my brakes are like sponges because the rears have un-adjusted and so I have to tighten them up. Why does this happen? Not so long ago I replaced the shoes and took the chance while it was all apart to clean everything up and grease it all. That didn't seem to make any difference. For the most part everything seems fine when I just do normal high-way driving, it's when I really use the brakes hard off road they loosen up.

Anyone got any clues?

And yes, I do use the handbrake, but it makes no difference.

[Diezel Weazel]

Hey Paul I never did find self adjusters very good or reliable although Volvo's seem to have a system that worked well n as it should....
As for un-adjusting.... after Off roading the brakes always seemed spongy n on inspection apart from sodden brake shoes there was always $hit loads of muddy sludge filling the drums ....

There's always a Payback .... Ya just never see it Comin !!!!

[TonyN]

Its odd isn't it. Never found out why, just clean the drums out, put them back together, and pull on handbrake and it adjusts up just fine.

Either its major wearing away of the rear shoes with the grit, or the lock plate gets dislodged and the adjuster can undo itself.

But they never adjust up again till you clean them out.

The sandy/silty offroad sites are the worst for doing it.

[Slugsie]

Well, the shoes are only a few months old, so they're fine. When I say spongy, I mean that I've got to press the pedal down a long way. Once I do the adjustment bit they're perfectly fine. Luckily it's a 5 minute job, so no great problem doing it. I was just wondering if there was a reason for it.

Oh well.

[SoundsDigital]

I can't speak for the Surf, but I did come across a similar problem many years ago whereby the adjusters had been assembled backwards and would slacken themselves off. I don't recall what vehicle it was either now but will always remember the symptoms it took us weeks to get to the bottom of it.

[Gizmo]

Well, the shoes are only a few months old, so they're fine. When I say spongy, I mean that I've got to press the pedal down a long way. Once I do the adjustment bit they're perfectly fine. Luckily it's a 5 minute job, so no great problem doing it. I was just wondering if there was a reason for it.

Oh well.

Hi Paul, I used to get the scenario after being off-road and the drums drying out with mud. Also i believe the wire extends over time due to being immersed in water,