How do I Adjust the Rear Brakes on a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer

The rear drum brakes on the 2001 Chevrolet Blazer can become unadjusted from normal wear and tear. Since they only account for about 25 percent of the braking power for the SUV, its important to keep the rear brakes adjusted in order to assist the front disk brakes. When the rear brakes become unadjusted, the front brakes take on the brunt of the rear brakes loss of efficiency. This will result in premature wear of the front brakes and can damage front braking components.

Instructions

1

Place a wheel wedge in front of one of the front tire treads and another behind one of the rear tire treads on the 2001 Chevrolet Blazer. Place the SUV in neutral and shut the key off (as far as it will allow).

2

Remove the rear lug nut caps with the lug wrench on both rear tires.

3

Crack the lug nuts loose with the lug wrench by turning them one-quarter turn to the left (counterclockwise).

4

Lift one rear quarter of the Blazer with the jack and then place the quarter onto a jack stand placed under the read axle. Repeat the procedure for the other rear quarter of the Blazer.

5

Remove the lug nuts and tires.

6

Locate the small, black rubber plug located in the bottom of the rear backing plate (behind the drum). Pry off the plug, using the screwdriver if necessary.

7

Shine the flashlight into the brake adjustment port to locate the starwheel and the starwheels holding clip. Get a feel for the position of the clip. It will take two hands to adjust the brakes so holding the flashlight will not be an option.

8

Rotate the drum to get a feel for how free-floating it is.

9

Insert the screwdriver through the brake adjustment port, locate the holding clip and push it away from the starwheel. Hold the clip in this position while taking the brake adjusting spoon and insert that into the port. Turn the starwheel wheel upward to expand the shoes outward or downward to contract the shoe inward. Check the movement of the drum after every three or four turns of the starwheel. A slight drag on the drum is sufficient for properly adjusted rear brake shoes.

10

Replace the plug(s), tires and lug nuts. Tighten the lug nuts snug to the hubs and then lower the Blazer.

11

Put the Blazer back into gear and then torque the rear lug nuts in a star pattern to 100 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

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How to Adjust Slack Adjusters on Trailer Brakes

Proper adjustment of slack adjusters is essential to the functionality of trailer brakes. Slack adjusters compensate for normal wear of break linings. The slack adjuster is an arm attached to a push rod on the brake assembly. Performing a slack adjustment means simply adjusting the push rod in the air chamber to within a predetermined tolerance, thereby maintaining optimal brake performance.

Instructions

How to Adjust Slack Adjusters on Trailer Brakes

1

Before beginning your adjustment, it is important to block the tires to prevent the trailer from moving. The best way to avoid movement is to raise the vehicle on jack stands during the adjustment. Have the brake system at full pressure, lower the emergency brake, and push in the air valve, thereby releasing the brakes. Listen for any air leaks, as they can decrease your braking ability.

Using a piece of chalk, mark the push rod where it leaves the air chamber.

2

Using a screwdriver for leverage, pull the push rod out of the air chamber, and measure from the chalk line to the air chamber. That shows you the "stroke range"; anything more than three-quarters of an inch would mean the brakes need an adjustment.

3

Locate the manual slack adjuster bolt. It connects the s-cam to the air chamber on the axle housing with the push rod. Using the appropriate sized wrench, turn the slack adjuster. Watch the s-cam to see the direction it is moving to ensure you are adjusting it correctly. You can tell you are adjusting it the wrong way if the push rod is pulling out of the air chamber.

Continue tightening until you feel resistance, which means you have drawn the brake linings to the drum.

4

Reverse the slack adjuster one-quarter to one-half of a turn to put a little distance between the drum and the linings.

5

Pressurize the system and apply the brakes using normal pressure. You should have no more than one-tenth of an inch between the brake linings and the drum, and there should be no more that 2 inches of travel in the push rod stroke.

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