Manual adjustment of rear brakes 230SL

[n/a]

Hi there, I'm new to this forum.

Is there somebody who knows how this system works? How should I proceed with the manual adjusters after I have changed the rear brake shoes and later, when the linings wear down?

Leif

[Naj ✝︎]

Hi, Leif,
Have a good look at the adjusters while you have the drums off to see how they work. You have to unwind them completely so that the drum will easily fit over the new linings. They turn in opposite directions to adjust the shoes up to the drum. I believe the rear adjusters have to be turned clockwise and the fronts ccw.
Also ensure the little pulleys for the emergency brake cables are not seized up.
naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[n/a]

Thanks naj. Should I adjust the shoes all the way up to the drums, or should I leave a little gap?

[Naj ✝︎]

Leif,
My training was:
Front wheels choked, rears lifted, neutral gear, emergency brake off:
Tighten up the shoes against the drum then backoff till you can turn the wheel freely.
I personally backoff till I can just hear the lining scraping against the drum.
Tighten up emergency brake cables if necessary.
naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[Malc]

Leif,
Do not let the brake linings wear down so far that the metal parts of the brake shoes start to "eat" into the drum. They are very very expensive to replace, well here in the UK they are!
Malc