Just did a full rear brake change and...

JHine5588 · Jan 11, 2009

I have an extra spring. I bought new hardware kits and adjusters and everything and I have a spring left over. I drove it around without this spring in for about a week then last friday it started acting funny. It seems the brakes are adjusting themselves up way too much! So much to the point I have to put it in four wheel to go anywhere if there is even the slightest bit of snow on the road.

I have tried ever possible combination I could think of with the new spring applying to the tensioner with no luck... I found these pictures from another post and that is exactly how mine look...

Well all but the wheel cylinder boot being popped off. Does anyone know where this other spring goes? I replaced the passenger side e-brake cable hoping that would help (it was stiffer than hell) but actually seemed to make things worse. Any help would be appreciated as I'm driving my Mazda 3 in the snow due to my truck not being drivable!!

Jeremy

Sasquatch_Ryda · Jan 11, 2009

It would reallyhelp to know or see what spring you have left over.

JHine5588 · Jan 12, 2009

it's longer then the blue one pictured. it has a backwards hook on it, i guess you'd say...

the blue ones in this picture...

Jeremy

Sasquatch_Ryda · Jan 12, 2009

Do you have the long spring that goes from the bottom of one shoe to the other? (its just above the adjuster)

JHine5588 · Jan 12, 2009

Yeah, but it isn't a very strong spring. I'm used to that spring being a lot stronger to hold pressure against the adjuster to keep it from over tightening. I've done brakes before but when i took these ones apart there was no spring like the extra one in sight, and the tensioner and cable for it were snapped... hence why I replaced them. It seems that this is the reason that they probably snapped because whoever replaced them before me didn't use this spring and the same thing happened to them untill finally the cables snapped... That's probably when I acquired it.

Jeremy

Bryan22 · Jan 12, 2009

there's a spring that goes from the adjuster to the pad on the opposite side, it was the biggest PITA to get on when i did my brakes last week. maybe you put the spring in the wrong places? a picture of your actual rears would be helpfull ESP one of how you have the springs and adjuster mounted. How hard was it to put the drums back on when you were done? I had a helluva time getting mine on at first till i realized i put the adjusters in the wrong place. DOH! and if you did both sides, i don't see how you only have 1 extra spring... have a look at both sides and see if they're the same... a new hardware kit should come with an even number of springs.

JHine5588 · Jan 13, 2009

Both sides had the extra spring, I was just stating that the one side did because the other side is exactly the same. I also positioned my springs exactly as they are in the picture above, just my springs are different colors.

If you're talking about the green one in the picture behind the adjuster plate I have that one too. Then the cable comes from the top around the guide which is held on by a yellow spring and hooks into the adjuster to pull up on it which turns the adjusting screw.

The thing is the adjuster IS working but it is over adjusting. It seems there isn't enough tension holding the secondary shoe (front smaller shoe) against the tensioner to limit the amount that the adjuster can screw out. My dad is convinced they gave me the wrong hardware kit but I got two as I originally threw away the extra springs figuring I didn't need them, but bought a new kit when this happened.

I will see if I can get some pictures tomorrow and post them up before I go to bed, which is about this time.

Jeremy

Yellowsplash · Jan 13, 2009

Did you happen to buy this kit from advance auto parts? Are the extra springs blue?

JHine5588 · Jan 14, 2009

Yes and yes... Is there a funny story I'm missing??

Here's what I got... what did I do wrong??

Jeremy

Yellowsplash · Jan 14, 2009

Everything looks good....Dont worry about that "extra" blue spring. I had an extra one left over when I did mine aswell. I think they add that as a "all-in-one" kit for another year axle or something. Spray it all down with some brake parts cleaner, grease the contact areas and your good to go. Its also a good idea to antisieze the self adjuster screw assembly threads too.

Mark_88 · Jan 14, 2009

Sorry, but that doesn't look right...

Unless they've changed things since 88...the spring that is holding the adjuster against the sprocket shouldn't be there...the wire that goes from the top down to the adjuster should actually connect to the top where that spring is sitting...at least on my setup...

But, then again...yours is a 99...so maybe that's the way it should be...but that spring would put more tension on that part than needed...just going from memory and I did my brakes this summer...

Sasquatch_Ryda · Jan 14, 2009

Mark_88 said:
Sorry, but that doesn't look right...

Unless they've changed things since 88...the spring that is holding the adjuster against the sprocket shouldn't be there...the wire that goes from the top down to the adjuster should actually connect to the top where that spring is sitting...at least on my setup...

But, then again...yours is a 99...so maybe that's the way it should be...but that spring would put more tension on that part than needed...just going from memory and I did my brakes this summer...

Nope he's got that together right.

Bryan22 · Jan 14, 2009

well it's obviously not right if his brakes are over-adjusting themselves and dragging....(his original post) but mine are setup totally different on the adjuster in my 94, and my book shows 93-94 model brakes, so i don't know. sorry. only thing i can think of is maybe those wheel cylinders are locking up on you.

Mark_88 · Jan 14, 2009

Sasquatch_Ryda said:
Nope he's got that together right.

I'd have to take your word for it...since it's a different year and all...guess I might have to learn that myself if I ever move out of Gen 1...but they are so simple it's almost a shame they improved them...lol

JHine5588 · Jan 14, 2009

So everything appears to be normal to everyone? I guess it just doesn't make sense... I will have to tear apart the drivers side to see if something is making that side lock up too. I.E. my adjuster cable snapped... I have no idea why these are acting up after over a week of driving.

Jeremy

Just did a full rear brake change and...

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