insaneradio Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 (edited) After almost 30 years of poor braking and trying every "work around" available, I finally came to the realization I was going to have to make my own tool to align the brake pads. Here is what I came up with. I had an old rusted brake drum under my bench. I ground/cut off the center rivets and removed the center hub. I welded a rod and installed a dial indicator. This was the result. Ofcourse the pictures show the completed unit without the wheel bearings installed. It worked quite well. One will have to install wheel bearing to utilize the unit. The result is I now have brakes that I can trust. Here is the procedure I used: 1. Turned the minor adjustment in about 1/4 travel. 2. Rotate the major adjustment just till the heel of the shoes touched the drum VERY slightly. 3. Remove drum and Install hub/dial devise. Rotate dial to HEEL of shoe. Set the dial to "zero" at the the measurement of the HEEL of the shoe. This now became MAX adjustment. 4. Rotate the hub/dial to the toe of shoe. Turn the minor adjustment until it read zero on dial at toe of shoe as well. I did have to "touch-up" the major adjustment slightly until all reading across the shoe from heel to toe read zero. 5. Repeat procedure for second shoe. I am quite pleased with the results. This is certainly one of several options out there. Being I was unable to locate an original adjustment tool this became my only option. And frankly a good one for me. I am quite pleased with the outcome. I hope this helps others who have struggled as I have for so many years. Good luck! Edited May 16, 2018 by insaneradio 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P15-D24 Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 If you don't have a hub you can use a bearing and flangette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgeb4ya Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 Nice job! Nice welds too.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insaneradio Posted May 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 19 minutes ago, Dodgeb4ya said: Nice job! Nice welds too.? Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knuckleharley Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 59 minutes ago, insaneradio said: After almost 30 years of poor braking and trying every "work around" available, I finally came to the realization I was going to have to make my own tool to align the brake pads. Here is what I came up with. I had an old rusted brake drum under my bench. I ground/cut off the center rivets and removed the center hub. I welded a rod and installed a dial indicator. This was the result. Ofcourse the pictures show the completed unit without the wheel bearings installed. It worked quite well. One will have to install wheel bearing to utilize the unit. The result is I now have brakes that I can trust. Here is the procedure I used: 1. Turned the minor adjustment in about 1/4 travel. 2. Rotate the major adjustment just till the heel of the shoes touched the drum VERY slightly. 3. Remove drum and Install hub/dial devise. Rotate dial to HEEL of shoe. Set the dial to "zero" at the the measurement of the HEEL of the shoe. This now became MAX adjustment. 4. Rotate the hub/dial to the toe of shoe. Turn the minor adjustment until it read zero on dial at toe of shoe as well. I did have to "touch-up" the major adjustment slightly until all reading across the shoe from heel to toe read zero. 5. Repeat procedure for second shoe. I am quite pleased with the results. This is certainly one of several options out there. Being I was unable to locate an original adjustment tool this became my only option. And frankly a good one for me. I am quite pleased with the outcome. I hope this helps others who have struggled as I have for so many years. Good luck! I like it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sser2 Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 Wow - you invented Aamco Brake Gauge! Aamco Brake Gauge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgeb4ya Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 What about the rear axle gauge? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptwothree Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 1 hour ago, P15-D24 said: If you don't have a hub you can use a bearing and flangette. What is a "flangette"? Where would one obtain one? Pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 2 hours ago, P15-D24 said: If you don't have a hub you can use a bearing and flangette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiggo Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 3 hours ago, sser2 said: Wow - you invented Aamco Brake Gauge! Aamco Brake Gauge I love the seller's note: Seller notes: “MAY CONTAIN MISSING PARTS/PIECES” I wonder how you'd identify them? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Worden18 Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insaneradio Posted May 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 13 hours ago, Dodgeb4ya said: What about the rear axle gauge? I made the identical unit from rear drum.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MackTheFinger Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 14 hours ago, sser2 said: Wow - you invented Aamco Brake Gauge! Aamco Brake Gauge Wiggo beat me to it!!! I may bid on it just because of the description!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knuckleharley Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 12 hours ago, Wiggo said: I love the seller's note: Seller notes: “MAY CONTAIN MISSING PARTS/PIECES” I wonder how you'd identify them? They would be easily identified as the parts you don't have when you are in the middle of a job and need them. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insaneradio Posted May 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2018 Here is the rear adapter I made for the rear shoes. It too is made from the center hub of a discarded brake drum. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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