Another brake adjustment tool

[insaneradio]

After fighting with my brakes for too long I opted to try my hand at making a tool.

 

I found two rusted drums and removed the center hubs.  I had a "arm" welded on to mount a dial indicator.

 

I installed the drum and adjusted the minor adjustment untill brakes drag.  I then removed drum and used dial indicator to locate highest point.  I then adjusted brakes to that high point.

 

I sure hope it works this time!!

 

I am not opposed to purchasing the correct tool.  I just cannot locate one!!

[Marcel Backs]

NICE WORK & should give desired results just fine. There are many specialized tools they should be bringing back. The leaf spring greasing rig immediately comes to mind.

[Booger]

thats big time. nice work

[Worden18]

Nice work!  And thanks for sharing.  I have been wanting to make my own tool for that as well, but had not imagined it the way you made yours.  Brilliant...

[insaneradio]

9 minutes ago, Worden18 said:

Nice work!  And thanks for sharing.  I have been wanting to make my own tool for that as well, but had not imagined it the way you made yours.  Brilliant...

Thanks, hope it gives you a couple of ideas!!

I will see tomorrow if it worked!!

[plymouthcranbrook]

Someone else has been making them as well. Might be keithb7.  You might ask him.

Edited April 13, 2021 by plymouthcranbrook

[bamfordsgarage]

Nice job. Thanks for posting.

 

I made one of a different design but used it the way you describe. Kind of fussy to get the adjustments right but it seems to do OK. A worthwhile improvement would be a brace to reduce/eliminate the tendency of the arm to flex. 
 

 

[insaneradio]

10 minutes ago, bamfordsgarage said:

Nice job. Thanks for posting.

 

I made one of a different design but used it the way you describe. Kind of fussy to get the adjustments right but it seems to do OK. A worthwhile improvement would be a brace to reduce/eliminate the tendency of the arm to flex. 
 

 

 

DGood idea!  Did you have good brakes afterwards?

[Art Bailey]

That's a great idea, I may cook one of these up. 

 

My idea, which is far down the list of things to do, is to take a piece of aluminum bar stock, have a machine shop bore a hole at the end large enough for the spindle to fit snugly. Cut a slot perpendicular to the width at the top, with a bolt threaded through it, parallel to the sides, so I can clamp a small engineer's square in the slot. For measuring the drum, I already have a big a$$ vernier caliper that I found cheap on ebay. 

 

I do wish those Ammco units were cheaper...paying $600 for that thing with missing parts makes my eye twitch.

Edited April 13, 2021 by ratbailey

[insaneradio]

29 minutes ago, ratbailey said:

That's a great idea, I may cook one of these up. 

 

My idea, which is far down the list of things to do, is to take a piece of aluminum bar stock, have a machine shop bore a hole at the end large enough for the spindle to fit snugly. Cut a slot perpendicular to the width at the top, with a bolt threaded through it, parallel to the sides, so I can clamp a small engineer's square in the slot. For measuring the drum, I already have a big a$$ vernier caliper that I found cheap on ebay. 

 

I do wish those Ammco units were cheaper...paying $600 for that thing with missing parts makes my eye twitch.

Your idea sounds as though it should work.  I am hoping I have better luck with this than I had the last--too many times!

[greg g]

Does it work on the rears?

[insaneradio]

3 hours ago, greg g said:

Does it work on the rears?

I made an identical spindle set-up for the rear! 

[Tom Skinner]

Nice work Gents. Making specialty tools is fun, and rather inexpensive I might add. Indeed.

[Tooljunkie]

On 4/12/2021 at 10:53 PM, bamfordsgarage said:

Nice job. Thanks for posting.

 

I made one of a different design but used it the way you describe. Kind of fussy to get the adjustments right but it seems to do OK. A worthwhile improvement would be a brace to reduce/eliminate the tendency of the arm to flex. 
 

 

I made something similar to this. By far better than guesswork, tried to wing it, but adjusting with this made a big difference.