3 Ways to Adjust Car Disc Brakes You Should Know
Brakes function to reduce vehicle speed, so it is clear that the performance of this device must be maintained. To avoid unwanted situations, here are the steps to adjust car disc brakes that you can do.
1. Preparation of Tools and Materials
If you want to do the adjustment yourself, make sure you have all the tools. You will need a jack to access the disc brakes.
Then provide a ratchet wrench or a 12 socket wrench, as well as a 21 wrench for the wheels along with 2 pieces of 12mm bolts. Also prepare anti-rust paste and a flat screwdriver.
2. Opening Brake Components
Once all the tools are available, proceed to the stage of opening the drum brakes. What you need to do is loosen the wheel nut of the brake you want to adjust, then jack up the bottom of the car.
After the position of the wheel and the car body is off the ground, you can remove the nut and the wheel that will be adjusted.
The way to adjust car disc brakes continues by lowering or disabling the handbrake. In the active condition, rotate the drum brake while spraying it with anti-rust liquid from the gap of the nut on the hub and wheel.
In this area, there is usually rust that reduces brake efficiency. Wait until the liquid is absorbed into the gap.
After 2 to 3 minutes, insert the 12 mm bolt into the available hole and tighten it using the 12 wrench. Once the bolt is installed,
you need to remove the drum part first. Then, remove the previously installed 12 mm bolt to take out the hidden brake drum.
Read also: Guide to Reading Bolt Size Tables and Their Wrenches Complete
3. Adjustment
When the brake drum and drum brakes are removed, this is where you can continue the brake adjustment process. The first thing you need to check is the thickness of the brake pads.
Make sure the thickness is more than 2 mm, if not, you need to replace it immediately. The way to adjust car disc brakes continues with setting the brake shoe.
Here, you need to use a flat screwdriver to turn towards the top of the setting gear. Count until you hear 5 to 10 clicks, to make the brake shoe expand. If you have replaced the pads, then reinstall the drum brake and the drum part in its original location.
Make sure both devices can be installed properly. The drum should go in and out easily, and there should be no obstruction. If this device is difficult to install, then the click adjustment on the setting gear is too much.
Reduce the rotation by turning the adjusting gear in the opposite direction. One or two clicks may be enough.
Then, the car disc brakes can continue with installing the drum brake. Make sure the rotation of the drum brake is not obstructed, if not, then reduce the rotation again.
Finally, install all the wheel nuts and tighten them. Raise the handbrake again and make sure you hear 6–7 clicks and you're done.
That is the stage for setting the disc brakes in good condition. Adjustment and maintenance of this component will greatly affect the braking strength.
Read also: Revealing the Difference Between Disc Brakes and Drum Brakes
