Brake adjusters

[hakukamana]

Don't laugh at a senior citizen, I have the most recent 89' long bed with the Dana 44 and I am do the rear brakes. Which direction does the adjuster point ? I have one side the star wheel is pointing forward the other side its facing rearward. The backing plate has two slots for the adjuster. The FSM does not really show the correct orientation of the adjuster. I just want the brakes to be correct. I know if they are not correctly installed they will work backwards. I have to install new adjusters anyway, rust, rust, rust.

[Warren Mohler]

usually toward rear shoe,when adjusting insert screwdriver through access hole and move handle downward to expand shoes

[AZJeff]

The adjusters on the brakes have a left side version and a right side version.  They are marked on the end of the threaded shaft portion of the adjuster.  Don't mix them up, or your self-adjusting function will become a "self UN-adjuster".

 

On all the XJ/MJ vehicles (except MJ's with the "Metric Ton" package), the lever on the cable that is part of the self-adjusting mechanism is supposed to pull UP on the outside edge of the "star wheel" that is part of the adjuster. 

 

That means to tighten the brakes once assembled, the adjuster "spoon" (or screwdriver substitute) should turn the inside edge of the star wheel DOWNWARDS when you reach in through the slot on the backing plate to do the adjusting.

[Eagle]

3 hours ago, AZJeff said:

 

On all the XJ/MJ vehicles (except MJ's with the "Metric Ton" package), the lever on the cable that is part of the self-adjusting mechanism is supposed to pull UP on the outside edge of the "star wheel" that is part of the adjuster. 

 

 

Why would the metric ton brakes (which are the same Bendix brakes as used on the non-metric ton axles, in the 1986 through 1989 model years except for the drum width) be any different than the non-metric ton brakes? In fact, how COULD they be any different?

[AZJeff]

2 hours ago, Eagle said:

 

Why would the metric ton brakes (which are the same Bendix brakes as used on the non-metric ton axles, in the 1986 through 1989 model years except for the drum width) be any different than the non-metric ton brakes? In fact, how COULD they be any different?

I dunno.   That's what it shows in the shop manuals for the MJ from back in the day.  The manual says the metric ton brakes were larger than the rest.

 

I know there is a difference in the adjuster levers and their cables between the Bendix style and Wagner/Lockheed style drum brake systems.   The pictures in the shop manual (as small as they are) seem to show the Wagner style adjusters on the metric ton axles.

[hakukamana]

OK, now I am totally confused, Dana 44 rear axle, should be 10x2.5" brake shoes. Here are pictures of the brakes by side.

Ist one is left, second one is right

 

[Warren Mohler]

check park brake cable on R. side has lever pulled a bit and self adjuster is not sitting level, L. side is in proper position

[Eagle]

4 hours ago, AZJeff said:

I dunno.   That's what it shows in the shop manuals for the MJ from back in the day.  The manual says the metric ton brakes were larger than the rest.

 

I know there is a difference in the adjuster levers and their cables between the Bendix style and Wagner/Lockheed style drum brake systems.   The pictures in the shop manual (as small as they are) seem to show the Wagner style adjusters on the metric ton axles.

 

The MJ (and XJ) didn't start using the smaller 9" drum rear brakes until either 1990 or 1991. Prior to that, the standard and heavy-duty brakes were both 10" Bendix brakes, with the only difference being 1-3/4" or 2-1/2" shoes. The brake hardware (including the star adjusters) is the same for both.

[Warren Mohler]

2 minutes ago, Eagle said:

 

The MJ (and XJ) didn't start using the smaller 9" drum rear brakes until either 1990 or 1991. Prior to that, the standard and heavy-duty brakes were both 10" Bendix brakes, with the only difference being 1-3/4" or 2-1/2" shoes. The brake hardware (including the star adjusters) is the same for both.

Yes sir, I've replaced hundreds of them and don't recall any difference except width

[Eagle]

When in doubt, consult the parts manual. 1990 was the year of the change.

 

For 1987-1989, the MJ and XJ had the following for the Dana 35 rear brakes:

• Star adjuster ... 5200 1216 Right
  
• Star adjuster ... 5200 1215 Left
  
• Adjuster Lever ... J320 1030 Right
  
• Adjuster Lever ... J320 1029 Left
  
  

 

1990 XJ and MJ for the Dana 35 rear brakes:

• Star adjuster ... Each piece individual. 2944 586 + 6027 559 + 2944 692 + 2881 686 Right
  
• Star adjuster ... Each piece individual. 2944 586 + 6027 559 + 2944 693 + 2881 687 Left
  
• Adjuster Lever ... 3461 665 Right & Left
  
  

 

For 1987-1989, the MJ and XJ had the following for the Dana 44 rear brakes:

• Star adjuster ... 8350 4308 Right
  
• Star adjuster ... 8350 4309 Left
  
• Adjuster Lever ... J320 1030 Right
  
• Adjuster Lever ... J320 1029 Left
  
  

 

For 1990, the MJ and XJ had the following for the Dana 44 rear brakes:

Same as for 1987-1989

 

I don't know why the star adjuster is different for the D35 and the D44 -- they look exactly the same and they work exactly the same, and the actuating lever is the same part number.

[AZJeff]

I will admit I don't have the parts manuals for any of the Jeep MJ/XJ family.   Also, I have never worked on any drum brakes in a Jeep except in my 1992 and 2000 XJ's--never any on my MJ.

 

As I said, the pictures in the manual specifically called out exploded views of the 9 inch and ten inch brakes, and the adjuster levers and their cable assemblies "looked different" in the small pictures presented.   I have worked on a bunch of old Ford's I have owned that used Wagner style adjusters, so  I kind of jumped to the conclusion that one was Wagner and the other was Bendix based on the pictures.

 

Sorry about putting out slightly bad info, but the part about the adjusters being marked "R" and "L" still applied.