VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Brake adjustment - which clockwise?

I plan to pick up my "new car" (1936 Master) tonight and thought I would try to adjust the brakes prior to driving it the 25 miles home. The pedal moves a lot on the first push but holds good on second push. The previous owner and I agree that the brakes just have too much clearence between the shoe and drum.

To adjust the brakes the service manual states to insert a screw driver and turn the adjusters "clockwise". Is this looking from the front of the car? What really would be helpful is it someone could tell me in terms of "do I move the screw driver upward (moving the adjuster nut from top to bottom) or do I move screw drive downward (moving the adjuster nut bottom to top"?

Thanks....

Sounds more like air in the lines to me if you can pump the pedal and get less play.

To adjust the front brakes the front wheels will need to be removed.On the right front wheel, looking at the drum with the wheel off, to tighten the front adjustemnt,The screw driver will be moved from top to bottom (will turn wheel clock wise)on the front slot and bottom to top on the rear slot.The L.F. wheel will be just reversed.Just adjusting the fronts will probably bring the pedal up to a reasonable height.Common,especially if the brakes have not been adjusted for a long time , for the adjusters to be froze.Also common for the wheel cylinder pistons ,at least some of them, to be froze or sticking in the wheel cyl. bore.
The rear will be adjusted thru the backing plate.Remove the adjusting hole plugs , if they are still there, so you can see the adjusting wheel.Will help guide you to see what your aiming for, (same for the front)......When looking at the rear adjusters from under the car , on the right side, the front adjuster will be turned "tighter" by going up with the SD handle-down with the rear.-just opposite on the left.If you are going in the correct direction the brakes should begin to drag after about 20 or so clicks.Hope this will help you to picture what you are trying to accomplish.

Thanks for the information.

When I have had air in brake lines in the past the pedal always felt spongy. These brakes feel firm but just a lot of travel.

I will know more about the actual brake condition when I see the car tonight.

FredW, I agree the second pump being good, seems to me there is too much clearance between the shoe and drum, they are spongy with just a little bit of air. I would venture a peek at the shoes and drums before I went very far, The peek will give you an oppurtunity to order some new wheel cylinders shoe adjuster nuts, and some new shoes and hold down equipment...Maybe,...Baby needs a new pair of shoes!