Self Adj To Manual Adj Drums

Dave Gantz · 04-02-2020, 03:07 PM

I have a 9" Ford. Does anyone still make a kit to convert from self adjusting to manual adjusting?

I've been searching around without any luck. I guess I'm showing my age, but I stopped having birthdays years ago.

JHeath · 04-02-2020, 03:10 PM

Couldn't you just remove the lever and the spring ?

Dave Gantz · 04-02-2020, 03:44 PM

Not quite, the manual star has a spring that keeps it from spinning. The auto stuff could still tighten.

Lee Valentine · 04-02-2020, 03:58 PM

Put a dab of silicone on the adjuster to keep it from tightening up.

Dave Noll · 04-02-2020, 04:04 PM

I just went to the hardware store and got some locknuts. I adjusted the brakes to about .010 clearance with 0 - 12" dial calipers.

Dave Gantz · 04-02-2020, 08:08 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I've been searching and I think I've found what I need.

Early 60's Fords have the 9" rear and manual adjusters. I found only them ("manual drum brake adjusting screw") at Rockauto. No springs.

Found a brake parts set that looks like it has the right return spring. (early 60's Ford with 10" brakes) They're available at a lot of places. One of the manual adjuster return springs is longer, because the auto adjusting stuff is out of there.
The other thing I needed is a spring to hold the adjuster in, and hold the bottom of the shoes together, while it captures the star wheel so that it doesn't spin. I found what look to be the right one at Macs Auto Parts. ("brake adjusting spring", a different one is listed as "auto adjusting spring")

Esentially, I found the parts separately. The used to come in a set. It all looks good, but I won't know for sure until I try them. It's all cheap enough.

Hard to describe, but I'll post a couple pictures if and when I get it together.

Keith 944 · 04-02-2020, 08:30 PM

Do you plan on getting two sets and using just the longer shoes? I used to do that on my footbrake cars

Dave Gantz · 04-02-2020, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith 944

Do you plan on getting two sets and using just the longer shoes? I used to do that on my footbrake cars

No, I'm just replacing the needed hardware.

Chevy55 · 04-03-2020, 01:08 AM

Try a heavy repair truck shop, they usually do brakes on everything and might still have the adjusters and springs that you need.
The manual adjuster has a course gear wheel.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...two-ten-series

Steve Polhill · 04-03-2020, 09:12 AM

Please tell me this is an April fools joke...LOL

04-02-2020, 03:07 PM	#1
Dave Gantz Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Verrry South Jersey Posts: 529 Likes: 125 Liked 226 Times in 118 Posts	Self Adj To Manual Adj Drums I have a 9" Ford. Does anyone still make a kit to convert from self adjusting to manual adjusting? I've been searching around without any luck. I guess I'm showing my age, but I stopped having birthdays years ago.

04-02-2020, 03:10 PM	#2
JHeath Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 788 Likes: 2,890 Liked 370 Times in 102 Posts	Re: Self Adj To Manual Adj Drums Couldn't you just remove the lever and the spring ? __________________ Jerry Heath I/S '93 Cobra FS/J 2010 Mustang "Ebay CJ"

04-02-2020, 03:44 PM	#3
Dave Gantz Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Verrry South Jersey Posts: 529 Likes: 125 Liked 226 Times in 118 Posts	Re: Self Adj To Manual Adj Drums Not quite, the manual star has a spring that keeps it from spinning. The auto stuff could still tighten.

04-02-2020, 03:58 PM	#4
Lee Valentine Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Brookfield, CT Posts: 708 Likes: 13 Liked 322 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Self Adj To Manual Adj Drums Put a dab of silicone on the adjuster to keep it from tightening up. __________________ Lee Valentine 1661 STK

04-02-2020, 04:04 PM	#5
Dave Noll Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Div. 6, Eastern, WA Posts: 694 Likes: 2,257 Liked 219 Times in 105 Posts	Re: Self Adj To Manual Adj Drums I just went to the hardware store and got some locknuts. I adjusted the brakes to about .010 clearance with 0 - 12" dial calipers. __________________ Dave Noll, E/FS ,L/SA 6526

04-02-2020, 08:08 PM	#6
Dave Gantz Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Verrry South Jersey Posts: 529 Likes: 125 Liked 226 Times in 118 Posts	Re: Self Adj To Manual Adj Drums Thanks for all the replies. I've been searching and I think I've found what I need. Early 60's Fords have the 9" rear and manual adjusters. I found only them ("manual drum brake adjusting screw") at Rockauto. No springs. Found a brake parts set that looks like it has the right return spring. (early 60's Ford with 10" brakes) They're available at a lot of places. One of the manual adjuster return springs is longer, because the auto adjusting stuff is out of there. The other thing I needed is a spring to hold the adjuster in, and hold the bottom of the shoes together, while it captures the star wheel so that it doesn't spin. I found what look to be the right one at Macs Auto Parts. ("brake adjusting spring", a different one is listed as "auto adjusting spring") Esentially, I found the parts separately. The used to come in a set. It all looks good, but I won't know for sure until I try them. It's all cheap enough. Hard to describe, but I'll post a couple pictures if and when I get it together.

04-02-2020, 08:30 PM	#7
Keith 944 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dela-where? Posts: 2,116 Likes: 1,004 Liked 1,649 Times in 521 Posts	Re: Self Adj To Manual Adj Drums Do you plan on getting two sets and using just the longer shoes? I used to do that on my footbrake cars __________________ KEITH MAYERS 2 X somebody many X nobody

04-03-2020, 01:08 AM	#9
Chevy55 Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 304 Likes: 606 Liked 167 Times in 83 Posts	Re: Self Adj To Manual Adj Drums Try a heavy repair truck shop, they usually do brakes on everything and might still have the adjusters and springs that you need. The manual adjuster has a course gear wheel. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...two-ten-series Last edited by Chevy55; 04-03-2020 at 01:25 AM.

04-03-2020, 09:12 AM	#10
Steve Polhill Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: London Ontario Posts: 515 Likes: 40 Liked 262 Times in 74 Posts	Re: Self Adj To Manual Adj Drums Please tell me this is an April fools joke...LOL __________________ Steve Polhill 3520 STOCK, COMP