2003 4x4 rear brake drum hot to the touch!!

Hey guys! I have a question that hopfully someone can help me out with. I just removed my rear drivers side drum to check the brakes. As I was putting the drum back on I felt that the drum was too loose going back on. I was always told that there should be some slight resistance between the drum and the shoes when putting the drum back on for the brakes to be adjusted correctley.

So I decided to adjust the adjuster a bit to tighten it up a bit. Got it all back together and drove if for about 20 mi. and when I parked it I felt the drum through the rim and it was so hot and I could not keep my finger on it for more then 5 seconds without burning my finger. Then I felt the other side and it was cool to the touch.

Its braking fine & driving fine. Should I be worried about this and remove the drum and try to re adjust it so where there isnt as much resistance or should I just drive it as is and maybe it will eventually re adjust itself? Would I have to worry about it getting so hot that it could catch fire? Is that even possible since the shoes are made of Asbestes?

Thanks in advance!!

 

You turned something that wasn't a problem into a problem.

Adjust it back.

 

Yeah I know thats what I was thinking. I just hope I can get it to where it was at b4.

 

Drums adjust (tighten) when you stop in reverse. Loosen it up and then backup and stop, you will be back to b4.

 

Oh ok! Ill have to try that! Thanks

 

To loosen it up, without removing the drum, you'll need to use the adjusting technique, only to move the adjuster in the other direction. More difficult than tightening, since you need a long thin screwdriver (or awl) to push that lever out of the way, while turning the adjuster in the opposite direction. I did the exact same thing years ago, when replacing the shoes on my old 4runner.

 

Thanks guys, I took the wheel off this morning & loosened it up. Then put it all back together & took it for a ride. Seems cool now just like the other side & and brakes are still good. Tried backing up to adjust them a bit but i don't know if it did anything or not. Would i feel a difference right away in the peddle after doing this? Should i find a hill and back down it while pumping the brakes?

 

Each time you back up and stop the adjuster moves one notch. It won't over adjust, so just do it a few times and you should be good. I assume it was relatively close and not way off to begin with.

No, probably won't feel a significant difference in the pedal.