Hi,

now I'm having a little problem. :thumbdwn:My left rear drum brake does not work properly.

The handbrake is only strong on the right hand side. After driving a bit (and breaking of course) the right brake drum is warm and the left one is almost cold.

Yesterday I opened the brake drum to check wheter the brake is oily. (Had this issue on year ago and the whole brake was renewed)... Everything seems to be okay, the mechanic works properly.

Does anybody have some ideas what to do?

Could be a few things I guess.

Is the self adjuster working OK?

Is the wheel cylinder seized?

Does it need bleeding?

I think I'd try the self adjuster first

yeah i would go with the self adjuster.Ichanged my drums and shoes about a month ago and had the same problem took the drum off again and gave the adjuster a hit using a screwdriver and hammer put the drum back on and the problem was sorted

The wheel cylinder is just 11 months old and brilliantly working. How to fix the self adjuster? What to do? Thanx a lot. Where is it?

Edited 4 May, 200917 yr by pollywog

:)Click on the link below:

http://briskoda.net/technical-guides/felicia-fav-fel-fab-oct-drum-brakes/49988/

Thanks for the hint. But what shall I do with the screwdriver? :really:

Well that thing with an arrow by it is a wedge, you need to get a screwdriver and move it down to spread the shoes apart.

And then the adjuster works?

:)The wedge IS the adjuster. Make sure the handbrake cables adjusters are slackened off BEFORE setting the shoes adjusters.

So I move this adjuster and give a litte bit of grease to it and it will fix my problem?

No the adjusters are cra.p . What you've done is adjusted it manually.Mind due if there is a lip on the brake drum you'll need to grind that off.Adjusting the wedge is trial and error.I just do it a bit and try the drum on.

there is no lip ... i had it off yesterday.Sorry that i'm so "stupid" today, but I have to understand it ^^

I understood... I open the drum, move the adjuster to spread the shoes and remount the drum... Do I have to move the adjuster a certain amount or just as I want?

You push the shoes apart with a screwdriver (where the blue arrow is on the pic) so that the spring pulls the wedge downwards. If you over do the adjustment don't worry, all you have to do is push the wedge back up and start again.

You push the shoes apart with a screwdriver

how far?

Until you can visibly see the wedge start to go down. Takes a bit of pressure to get it moving. To clarify, insert the big flat bladed screwdriver into the bit with the blue arrow and put the end against the bit on the right, and use the bit on the left as leverage. You're pushing these bits apart to let the wedge drop. Try to let it go down a bit at a time and as Ken says try putting the drum back on and checking for how much space is left between the shoe and the drum.

so is there a way to achieve that the automatism works again?

I think it's generally held that they never work properly. I have dismantled mine and greased the wedge and it still doesn't work. Don't worry though, it shouldn't need adjusting too often

I will try it tomorrow... Open the drum and spread the shoes and I hope it adjusts itself ^^

That looks very similar to a MK1 Golf or Scirocco drum. I found that getting the handbrake cables right and a good hard stomp on the pedal after making sure they weren't seized usually adjusted them. Not the best though.

As the wedge goes down a notch, it makes the shoes move slightly further out.

Until you can visibly see the wedge start to go down. Takes a bit of pressure to get it moving. To clarify, insert the big flat bladed screwdriver into the bit with the blue arrow and put the end against the bit on the right, and use the bit on the left as leverage. You're pushing these bits apart to let the wedge drop. Try to let it go down a bit at a time and as Ken says try putting the drum back on and checking for how much space is left between the shoe and the drum.

Can that be done through a bolt hole with the drum on? That used to be the recomended way to release them to get the drum off when they did work properly and there was a lip on the drum.

the adjuster has notches? why didn't you say this earlier?

I tried it. TRIED. I did not succeed. I could adjust the shoes but the were to far out so I could not get back the drum on. No Problem you think. Yes but the way back did not work. So I had to take the whole shoes and mechanic out and bring the car to the garage. Tonight i'm going to pick her up...

All you needed to do was push the wedge back up.

Edit: looks like you tried this and it didn't work.

All you needed to do was push the wedge back up.

Edit: looks like you tried this and it didn't work.

Yes it did not work :(