Star Adjuster/Which Way to Rotate to Adjust Shoes:

Hello Everyone:

I'm just about at the end of my brake job with my 98 Tacoma SR5 and I need to adjust the brake shoes so that I can fit my drums over the shoes.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out which way to rotate the star adjuster, so that the brake shoes are pulled inward on the driver side, so as to put the drums back on (i.e. is it up/clockwise or down/counter clockwise).

To reiterate, I can't fit the drums over the shoes and I need to know which way to turn the star adjuster. That would by starting point towards finishing the job. Once I figure that out, I will adjust the shoes accordingly.

 

Looking at the axle from the wheel side, roll them up to shrink. Through the access hole on the backing plate, roll up to expand

 

With the drum off, it should be apparent which way does what. That said adjust the shoes so that the drum barely fits over the shoes. Then make small adjustments to them so that it just barely fits pretty easily and allows the drum to spin and that way most of your adjustments are done drum off. They can self adjust from there.

Better a smidge loose than too tight.

 

If you turn the star adjuster wheel and the adjuster elongates in length, that is pushing the brake shoes closer to the drum thus tightening the brakes. If you turn the adjuster wheel and the adjuster lessens in length, that is bringing the shoes further away from the drums thus loosening the brakes.

 

The question is regarding the direction in which I spin the adjuster, because at this point, I can't tell if the shoes are tightening or getting loose. So, while facing the baking plate on the driver's side, would I spin the adjuster up to loosen or down to loosen?

For clarity, I need it to be answered in this fashion please.

 

I can't remember which way off the top of my head. But, come on dude, it's a process of elimination. You can obviously see, so like I said in my above post, if you turn it one way and the adjuster is getting longer, that's tightening and you need to turn it the opposite direction. If you turn it one direction and it's reducing in length you guessed right. You should be able to figure it out using this method. Don't look at what the shoes are doing, look at the star adjuster and the right direction will reveal itself.

 

https://itstillruns.com/adjust-toyota-tacoma-drum-brakes-7349993.html

 

Thank You Sir, that helped immensely!

 

I always spin the tire/wheel while I turn it. Even if I know the right direction, I want to hear when it starts to rub more aggressively.

I usually tighten it until I think its a little too tight, then back it off a bit. That way I feel more sure the shoes are centered well against the drum. Maybe just paranoid, but, if the shoes get worn a little crooked, it might help them wear back in straight and I am not fooled by only a portion of the shoe starting to rub..