"Wolz"
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Overland Park, KS
I just adjusted my rear brakes. I did so just to see how much help I could get from the drums.
O.K. so I raise the rear of the XJ, throw the auto into neutral, pull the plug off the backing plate on the drivers side. I used a screw driver to adjust.
Now I have read to spin the wheel while adjusting until I 'feel' drag and stop, heres where it gets interesting. I have a Detroit in the rear of my 8.25 so while spinning the wheel I spin the entire rearend. With the passenger side wheel spinning it was hard to 'feel' anything so, I just 'rocked' the drivers side wheel forward and backward throughout the 'play' zone the Detroit has.
I clicked that adjuster probably 12-15 times before I felt any drag so I stopped. I remember reading that Detroits become 'interesting' when tire pressure is off so I began to wonder if I don't adjust each side the same I could get handling problems. So I stand there and spin the drivers side wheel forward continuously, the locker allowed the drivers side wheel to free-wheel while the driveshaft and pass. side wheel didn't spin. I don't understand that. If there was 'more' drag on the drivers side wheel why would it free-wheel?
Anyway, I tried to get the passenger side adjusted the same. I adjusted the passenger side until the locker locked while spinning the passenger side. Got that done, now for the test drive.
Holy crap this thing stops way better now. I can haul this thing down to a stop quick now. I can hear the rear MT/R's grabbing the asphalt hard. I couldn't get the rears to lock, I probably didn't try hard enough.
So, with the upgraded front brakes and the adjusted rears I feel confident now.
After the test drive I returned home. Unsure if I 'over' adjusted the brakes I touched the drums; they were hot as all get out!
I am worried that I have 'over' adjusted the brakes; it seems that under hard acceleration there is too much drag. But, while coasting it doesn't slow on its own any more than it used to.
I can see the rear locking instantly the next time it rains. Any thoughts?
O.K. so I raise the rear of the XJ, throw the auto into neutral, pull the plug off the backing plate on the drivers side. I used a screw driver to adjust.
Now I have read to spin the wheel while adjusting until I 'feel' drag and stop, heres where it gets interesting. I have a Detroit in the rear of my 8.25 so while spinning the wheel I spin the entire rearend. With the passenger side wheel spinning it was hard to 'feel' anything so, I just 'rocked' the drivers side wheel forward and backward throughout the 'play' zone the Detroit has.
I clicked that adjuster probably 12-15 times before I felt any drag so I stopped. I remember reading that Detroits become 'interesting' when tire pressure is off so I began to wonder if I don't adjust each side the same I could get handling problems. So I stand there and spin the drivers side wheel forward continuously, the locker allowed the drivers side wheel to free-wheel while the driveshaft and pass. side wheel didn't spin. I don't understand that. If there was 'more' drag on the drivers side wheel why would it free-wheel?
Anyway, I tried to get the passenger side adjusted the same. I adjusted the passenger side until the locker locked while spinning the passenger side. Got that done, now for the test drive.
Holy crap this thing stops way better now. I can haul this thing down to a stop quick now. I can hear the rear MT/R's grabbing the asphalt hard. I couldn't get the rears to lock, I probably didn't try hard enough.
So, with the upgraded front brakes and the adjusted rears I feel confident now.
After the test drive I returned home. Unsure if I 'over' adjusted the brakes I touched the drums; they were hot as all get out!
I am worried that I have 'over' adjusted the brakes; it seems that under hard acceleration there is too much drag. But, while coasting it doesn't slow on its own any more than it used to.
I can see the rear locking instantly the next time it rains. Any thoughts?