Hi,
Longer pedal travel and a parking brake that takes more clicks to engage are classic signs that the rear brake shoe to drum clearance is out of adjustment. This can be due to the parking brake not being used enough or rear brake hardware sticking.
To adjust the rear brakes, raise rear end of vehicle and support with jack stands. Remove the adjusting hole cover plug on backside of rear drum backing plate. Turn adjusting screw with a small screwdriver until there is slight drag felt when spinning the tire.
The brakes are self-adjusting, but if the hardware in the rear brakes for the adjusting mechanism sticks due to corrosion then they wont self-adjust anymore, or get out of adjustment enough so that you have to manually adjust them. You know they are adjusted up properly when you have to hit the drum with a hammer to get it to pop off. I generall adjust the rear brakes so that when I spin the wheel it makes one complete revolution then slows to a stop
Automotive Repair Shop Manager
Automotive Repair Shop Manager, Technician
Just come back and re-open this question- and I will continue to help-dont reply to this post and it keeps the question open for another 24hrs
Eric-
Thanks for your help.
Went to adjust rear brakes. Left rear, OK. Right rear...hmmm...no apparent adjusting apparatus. Spun the wheel and I could see parts rolling around through the adjusting hole.
The self adjusting spring had broken. All associated parts were laying in the bottom of the drum.
Luckily, I had not driven far this way so the drum and shoes were fine. Had to replace spring and adjusting lever.
All is once again balanced in the universe.
Thanks again.
E
glad you were able to find it- even a fairly inexpensive repair at that...have a great weekend!