unit91

I noticed that I have a cable that is not connected in my right rear wheel. I checked diagrams and apparently it is a "self-adjusting cable". I basically know what self-adjusting brakes are but I really don't understand how they work and what this cable does. If someone can educate me I'd appreciate it.

I found a website with videos that explain all this @

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-p...rum-brake1.htm

TexasAxMan

I believe the way it works is that it releases the star wheel when applying the brakes in reverse, allowing the brakes to self-adjust. I've "adjusted" many a drum brake by getting moving in reverse and then slamming on the brakes. You can actually hear the ratchet sound if the car is not too loud.

If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.

dawson1112

The shoes inside the drum make contact with the drum ordinarily , this leaves the adjuster cable slack enough that it doesn't pull the the mechanism that ratchets the notched wheel on the adjuster screw. As the shoes wear down the cable is pulled further and further until it pulls the catch up on the star and ratchets it up each time until the shoes make solid contact with the drum again.

When you reverse the vehicles and suddenly apply the breaks it causes the shoes to momentarily move backwards pulling that cable . Ordinarily this procedure does not need to be performed. But when installing new shoes you can only adjust so much by sight and fell then the rest is a simple process of backin up and manually setting the shoes. Or if the pieces that make up the auto adjusting are stuck this will manually force enough tension on the cable that it will pull the ratchet up.

dawson1112

I should say that this operation is performed every time you stop in reverse. It is an automatic feature and you likely wont even know its happening

unit91

OK. Understood. Apprecaite it!