rear drum brake self adjustment

[monkeydave]

will the rear drum brakes adjust indemendently or if one brake is just rubbing the other wont adjust any more ?

as my left brake is lightly rubbing once per revolution and the right is just spinning freely

i have adjusted it loose the other week and it self adjusted itself back to where it origionally was and the right wheel is just the same

the brakes work perfectly, i am just trying to track down this whistle at 50mph and i think it is tyre noise vibrating the drum in a metalic whistle type noise even though when you apply the brakes the noise is still present if you are above 50mph

 

cheers guys

[alan333]

The adjusters work on a ratchet type arrangement, when the shoes move too far the ratchet turns a notch.  This will (or should) happen independently as each side requires.

If your noise is brake related it should change when you apply the brakes, but remember the rears probably don't do much under general conditions.  Try applying the handbrake a bit while driving instead.  Obviously only do this if you're confident and on empty roads etc cos the brakes could lock up causing loss of control of the car.

[monkeydave]

yeah i have done the hand brake while driving and the normal brakes, and the noise is there still until you go under 50mph

 

it could still be tyre noise going through the alloy into the drum brake acting like a bell but it is unusual to have just one tyre making noise

 

i have had the brake off and loosened it a bit but it has gone back to where it was on the hand brake 3 clicks and i could not see any marks from the drum rubbing on the back plate or shoes out of place

 

it is very strange, i might possible take it to the dealer to see what he thinks although i dont want mechanics out over 50mph in a 30 zone without me being there

all the tyres are the same as it is a new car, and it has 1300 miles on it now, i thought it would settle down by itself but it only seems to have gone margionally better since i got it

it does make some strange noises depending on what road surface i am on too, all the tyres make a different noise but the back left is loudest by a long way

after a run i check the rear drums for heat and they are just warm to the touch and not burn your fingers hot and the same on both sides, also when i had the drum off i span the bearing and it was quiet

thanks for the reply

[Konrad C]

Change the tyre pressure to see if the noise changes too. I had a rear tyre sound like a worn wheel bearing, and sounded worse with more weight or lower pressure, less with higher pressure than standard. The sound was droning.

[monkeydave]

i tried that first as they were a little low and they are all to spec now and all the wheels are bolted up to spec now, it isnt a typical drone noise like a wheel bearing more a metalic whistle and it is only on the rear left wheel

thanks for your reply