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 Change Rear Brakes on an Avalanche

The rear brakes on the Chevy Avalanche are comprised of a two-piston caliper, disc pads and a brake rotor. The system is very similar to the front brakes on the Avalanche, giving the truck great stopping power and keeping the brake system very balanced. The brakes are easily replaced in the driveway or garage with basic tools, and the pads are readily available at any parts store or the Chevy dealership&039;s parts department.

Instructions

1

Open the hood of your Avalanche and find the brake master cylinder on the firewall. Open the cover and remove three-quarters of the brake fluid using a turkey baster. Replace the cover on the master cylinder and move to the rear of the truck.

2

Loosen the rear lug nuts with a lug wrench but do not remove them completely yet. Raise the rear of the truck with a jack, then position a set of jack stands under the rear axle to support it. Remove the lug nuts and wheels from the truck.

3

Locate the brake caliper mounting bolts and remove them with a socket and ratchet. Lift the caliper off the mounting bracket and support it with a piece of wire off the suspension of frame of the truck. Remove the brake pads from the mounting bracket and discard them.

4

Position a new set of pads in place on the bracket, then install the caliper over them. Install the caliper mounting bolts and torque them to 30 ft-lbs. with a torque wrench. Repeat the process for the opposite side of the truck.

5

Install the tires and lug nuts on the truck, raise it off the jack stands with a jack, remove the stands and set the truck on the ground. Tighten the lug nuts with a lug wrench.

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How to Install Rear Glass in a Beetle

Installing the rear glass in a Volkswagen Beetle can be a difficult process and should be done with the help of an assistant. The rubber window seal must be installed correctly to protect the interior of the car from leaks. The window seal has two curved surfaces: The large one goes on the outside of the vehicle and the small one goes on the inside of the vehicle. Next to the outer surface of the seal is a narrow indentation that is square in shape with grooves along the bottom. This indentation is where the window glass is placed. The rounded indentation is where the flange of the car will be placed. The flap that includes the small curved surface must be pulled inside the car during installation.

Instructions

Place the Seal on the Glass

1

Locate the squared indentation in the window seal and the larger surface that goes on the outside of the car.

2

Insert the window glass into this groove, making sure that the exterior surface of the seal is on the same side as the exterior surface of the glass. Do not use lubrication during this step.

3

Check the entire seal to make sure it is firmly and completely installed on the glass.

Install the Window

4

Place the cord in the rounded indentation in the seal, making sure that the ends of the cord overlap for at least 18 inches on either the top or the bottom.

5

Add lubrication to the indentation on top of the cord. To make a good lubricant that is easy to clean up, mix 1 part soap with 9 parts water.

6

Carefully place the window in the opening in the vehicle with the help of your assistant. Make sure that the glass is square in the opening and that the ends of the cord are inside the car. Check that the outer seal fits properly over the exterior of the car.

7

Pull on one end of the cord from inside the car while your assistant applies gentle pressure to the section of glass you are installing. This will pull the inside seal into the car. Stop when you reach the first corner.

8

Pull on the other end of the cord in the same way until you reach the opposite corner. Continue to alternate pulling one cord, and then the other, to complete the seal. Do not get one side too far ahead of the other side.

9

Slap the window seal with your hand at any place where the window does not appear to be completely set in place. Do this only when the inner seal has been completely pulled inside the car.

10

Clean the window and the window seal to remove any excess lubricant.

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How to Replace the Rear Brake Rotors on a 1993 Lumina

The process for removing the rotors from the rear wheels is essentially the same as that for the front wheels on the Chevy Lumina. The disc brakes on the automobile are much easier to manage than drum brakes. This is primarily because there are no springs to deal with. You wouldnt usually change the brake rotors without changing the brake pads as well. However, you still may need to replace the rotors for one reason or another. It doesnt take very long, but when you do need to replace one, you should replace the rotors on both wheels on that axle at the same time.

Instructions

1

Park the car on a level surface and place the wheel chocks in front of the front wheels. Place a jack stand under the car and raise it up to the frame close to the jacking point.

2

Remove the wheel using the lug wrench and set it off to the side. Remove the brake caliper using a socket and ratchet to loosen the caliper bolts. Secure the caliper to the spring or shock absorber using a wire tie. You should never allow the caliper to hang or you will damage the brake line.

3

Pull the old rotor off of the wheel assembly by pulling it straight out. If it doesnt come off easily, use the rubber mallet to hit it until it breaks loose.

4

Put the new rotor on the wheel assembly. Place the brake caliper on the wheel assembly over the rotor and tighten the bolts with the socket and ratchet. Put the wheel back on the car and tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench.

5

Remove the jack stand from under the car and lower the vehicle to the ground. Repeat the process on the other wheel.

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How to Change the Rear Brake Shoes on a 2006 Ford Taurus

The Ford Motor Company introduced the first Taurus in 1986. By 2006, the Ford Taurus camp equipped with the option of two versions of the 3.0-liter V-6 engine. The 2006 Ford Taurus came standard with front ventilated disc brakes and rear drum brakes. Replacing the rear brake shoes on the 2006 Taurus can be challenging, and requires someone with prior mechanical experience. When replacing the brake shoes on the 2006 Taurus, replace all of the hardware associated with the rear drum brakes to ensure optimum operation and performance.

Instructions

1

Ensure the vehicle is in park and then loosen the rear wheel nuts with a tire iron. Raise the rear of the Taurus with a jack. Place jack stands beneath both ends of the rear axle beam. Leave yourself enough room to access the backing plate behind the rear wheels. Lower the car onto the jack stands. Remove the rear wheel nuts and remove the rear wheels from the Taurus.

2

Remove the rubber plug from the backing plate on one side of the Taurus. Insert a flat-head screwdriver. Set the tip of the screwdriver against the self adjust wheel inside the drum assembly. Push the "star" shaped adjuster downward to back the brake shoes inward, away from the brake drums. Tap the brake drum sides toward the front of the car and toward the rear of the car with a hammer.

3

Remove the old brake drum and set it with its opening downward, in order to dump all of the rust and brake dust out. Remove the parking brake cable from the parking brake lever, at the bottom of the brake assembly. Use a flat-head screwdriver to pull the parking brake lever up and outward from the brake assembly. Twist the lever to remove it from the cable.

4

Remove the two hold-down spring at the 3 oclock and 9 oclock positions, in the middle of the brake shoe supports. Use a circular brake spring remover to pull both springs. Remove the retractor spring from between the two shoes, using a brake spring hook toward the bottom of the brake assembly. Remove the retractor spring from between the two brake shoes at the top of the brake assembly, using the same tool.

5

Slide the brake shoes outward, away from the center of the brake assembly. Remove the self-adjuster wheel assembly from between the shoes, just behind the wheel hub assembly. Remove both rear brake shoes from the vehicle. Remove the spring retainer pin from the forward brake shoe, using a hammer and screwdriver to punch the pin out.

6

Remove the parking-brake lever pin from the other brake shoe with a pair of pliers. Pull the horseshoe pin from the brake shoe and discard it. Remove the pin from the brake shoe. Remove both brake shoes from the Taurus and throw them out.

7

Visually inspect the wheel cylinder at the top of the remaining brake assembly. If there is any moisture on or around the cylinder, this may indicate bad seals. Replace the wheel cylinders as needed.

8

Install the parking brake lever and pin into the new brake shoe. The brake shoes come four to a box. The two shorter shoes face the front of the vehicle, while the longer shoes face the rear. Insert a new horseshoe clip to lock the parking brake lever on the new shoe. Attach the parking brake cable to the rear facing brake shoe, once you have installed the lever onto the shoe.

9

Install the new brake shoes one at a time and insert new hold-down springs and pins. Use the circular brake spring tool to twist the spring end caps so they lock the hold-down pins in place. Turn one end of the self-adjuster wheel so that the adjuster assembly contracts to a smaller size, in order to allow room to install the drums on the new brake shoes. Install the self-adjuster in between the mounted shoes, with the wider slot facing the front of the car.

10

Install the brake tension springs between the upper and lower ends of the new brake shoes, using a brake spring tool.

11

Stretch the tape measure straight across the opening of the brake drum. If the brake drum opening is larger than 8 and 15/16-inches, discard the drums and replace them. Install the drums over the new brake shoes. Make adjustments in the rear of the brake assembly, using the self-adjuster hole in the backing plate. Turn the self-adjuster until you can no longer turn the brake drum by hand.

12

Install the wheel on the car where you just completed the brake shoe replacement. Install the lug nuts snug with a tire iron. Turn the wheel by hand. If the wheel turns around one full rotation and stops, the brakes are adjusted properly. If the wheel turns more than once, the brakes need tightening. If the wheel turns less than once, the brakes need loosening. Repeat the step until you have properly adjusted the brake assembly on the first side of the car.

13

Repeat Steps 2 through 12 to complete the brake shoe replacement on the second side of the Taurus. Enter the car and pump the brake pedal five to ten times to complete the seating of the brake shoes against the drums. Install both rubber stoppers back into the backing plates on the rear of the car.

14

Raise the Taurus off the jack stands, and lower the car to the ground. Tighten the rear wheel lug nuts to 95-foot-pounds of torque, using a 1/2-inch drive torque wrench and wheel nut socket.

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How to Replace a Rear Window With a Slider

Trucks come with lots of different options, including solid back glass and sliding rear windows, also known as a slider. While a solid back window offers added security, a slider will allow wind to flow easier throughout the cab, making driving with the windows down a more comfortable experience. It also allows communication with those in a camper, if one is mounted on the truck. If you want to install a sliding back window in your truck, you can do it yourself with the help of an assistant and some hand tools.

Instructions

1

Open the cab doors and use the flathead screwdriver to work the rubber seal around the back window out from the inside of the vehicle towards the outside. The flathead screwdriver can push the rubber lip out, then can be drug around the mounting lip to remove the rubber. Make sure the assistant is holding the glass from the outside while you are pushing out the seal. Then remove the back glass.

2

Place the rope in the rubber seal around the slider window, leaving at least 12-inches of rope hanging outside of the rubber seal. Make sure the rope goes around the entire perimeter of the glass and stays in the channel.

3

Place the window in the window channel on the cab of the truck with the excess rope on the inside of the vehicle. Have your assistant hold the glass in place while you move to the inside of the vehicle.

4

Start to pull one end of the rope, parallel to the ground, while the assistant pushes the glass in towards the interior. This is going to pull the rubber seal out and around the factory lip, mounting the glass in place.

5

Continue to pull the rope around the glass while the assistant follows you, pushing in the window. Once youve gone around the entire window, you may have to use the flathead screwdriver to pull some of the rubber seal towards the inside of the cab, just to clean it up a bit.

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How to Replace Rear Disc Brakes in a Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry utilizes disc and drum brakes for its stopping power. Many people prefer disc brakes because they are easy to replace and they operate efficiently. Read further to learn how to replace the disc brakes on your vehicle to maintain that stopping power.

Instructions

1

Lift the vehicle from the ground using a car jack. Remove the wheels with a torque wrench and set them aside face up.

2

Unscrew the caliper mounting bolts using the torque wrench. Disconnect the caliper assembly making sure to leave the brake line intact.

3

Remove the old brake pads. Take out the shims, springs, pad wear indicators and pad support plates.

4

Position the new pad support plates onto the torque plate. Place the new pad wear indicators on the new disc brake pads. Verify that the arrow on the indicator plate points in the direction that the wheel rotates.

5

Replace the outer shims on the outside of the brake pad assembly. Insert them into the torque plate.

6

Push the caliper piston back into the bore. Lay the caliper over the pads and fasten it down. Tighten the caliper mounting bolts.

7

Put the wheels back on the Toyota Camry and verify that the brakes operate properly. Replace any necessary brake fluid.

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Do it Yourself Rear Window Repair on Mitsubishi Truck

Fixing the rear window of your Mitsubishi truck is like fixing the back window of any other truck. Most of the time, this kind of repair would require replacing your old window with a new one, especially if the former is heavily damaged or has a crack. Remember, however, that if the crack is just a small one, applying a good sealant will do the trick, and you wont need to buy a new window for your vehicle.

Instructions

1

Check your rear windows for damage by using a pail of water and see if there is a leak. This will help you locate where the damage is and will make your job a lot easier.

2

Determine whether the seal or the window itself is damaged. This will help you decide whether you only have to seal a leak or a crack or replace the window with a new one. If the seal is broken go to Step 3, if its the window thats broken go straight to Step 4.

3

Replace the rubber seal on your rear window by cutting the rubber around it. Use your knife to do this. Take your time to remove the rubber until you can easily pull out the window. Put a new rubber seal around your window and put it back into the cars opening. Finish by applying a sealant. Make sure to have some water on hand so you can check if it seals perfectly.

4

Remove the rubber lock and then take out your window. Change the old window to the new one by firmly securing the area around it with the rubber seal. Finish this by applying sealant and then put the lock back in place.

5

Allow the sealant to cure for about 15 hours.

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