[Headcase92]

I have a 86 sierra an the tail shalf hand brake only works on the absolute last click so I want tighten it but don't wanna pull it apart an bits fall everywhere

[want33s]

The handbrake on NT's is in the drum on the back of the transfer.
Chock both front wheels and one rear wheel then jack up the unchocked rear wheel and put a stand under the axle.
Get under the car and you will see the drum.
On 1.0's and most 1.3's there is a small hole in the face of the drum (about 15mm dia.) that you can stick a flat screwdriver or proper brake adjusting tool in there. If there is no hole then you will have to remove drum, make adjustment, refit drum and so on until it is set right.




HOWEVER: I would suggest tailshaft, drum and handbrake internals being removed so that new shoes can be fitted and the adjuster can be unseized/greased.
Handbrake shoes are only $25.

[droverdave]

want33s wrote:

HOWEVER: I would suggest tailshaft, drum and handbrake internals being removed so that new shoes can be fitted and the adjuster can be unseized/greased.
Handbrake shoes are only $25.

I also prefer to dissassemble a drum brake to adjust.

One instance i stuck my screw driver in the back and gave it a few clicks, but i went a few too many by accident, and i got the drum brake stuck on pretty darn good. Couldnt get it off and i couldn't spin it.

I have no done a drum brake on a suzuki, but on my old corolla once i got it stuck on, loosening the adjustment mechanism from that little tiny hole in the back of the drum was very VERY difficult.

I prefer remove drum, put on new shoes, adjust the shoes, slide the drum back on to check, if it needs more, take off drum, few more clicks check again. whatever you do do not force the drum on with more than your hands, as if you get it stuck on, you gotta try and loosen the adjustment mechanism as above through the little hole.

On a side not, i hear some of the later suzukis have auto adjusting rear brake drums (as opposed to my NT has manual adjust), is it possible to retrofit these auto adjustment mechanisms to my drums? and maybe even for the drum brake?

[want33s]

droverdave wrote:

On a side not, i hear some of the later suzukis have auto adjusting rear brake drums (as opposed to my NT has manual adjust), is it possible to retrofit these auto adjustment mechanisms to my drums? and maybe even for the drum brake?

Swapping WT backing plates onto a NT axle/diff is easy enough but it's a lot of work I wouldn't bother with.
You'd need to fit the WT cables and diff brackets and even the WT handbrake lever is different.
WT's eat rear brake shoes a LOT faster than NT's if you go in mud.

Just rejuvenate the transfer drum or upgrade to a transfer disc setup.

[Headcase92]

Ok thanks guys ill let use know if I have any problems when I get home