Brake Drum Self Adjuster Gear Screw Bent?

[YoshiMoshi3]

Drum Brakes, 2005 Camry

Is the threaded portion supposed to be bent like this? This is part of the drum brakes. It's a pretty thick screw, so I find it hard to believe somehow this got bent. But when disassembling it "wobbled". I unscrewed it completely and noticed that it was bent. So this thing.


Can anyone confirm this is normal? Find it hard to believe it being bent is normal, but also find it hard to believe something happened to cause it to bend so badly.

 

[5ubtle]

It is not supposed to be bent.

 

[Rinspeed]

The whole rebuild kit is like $25 or so.

 

[APEowner]

It's not supposed to be bent. It was likley damaged during a ham fisted attempt at adjustment.

 

[PCustoms]

Looks necked down/stretched too.

What socket fit that head?

 

[WWheeler]

Looks necked down/stretched too.

What socket fit that head?

No socket fits it. It's a drum brake adjuster. It sure as hell didn't get bent manually adjusting it with a screwdriver/brake tool turning the toothed gear through the hole. They are supposed to be self adjusting but I can't see that ever torquing it like that either, though I guess it must have somehow?? Pretty strange to see it bent like that.

Did you have to use some type of puller to get the drum off?

 

[WWheeler]

The whole rebuild kit is like $25 or so.

I'd go get a salvage oem one before I even considered replacing it with a Dorman part, but that's just me.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Overheated and bent? Cheap heat treating? Something weird happened.

 

[WWheeler]

I'm leaning towards the lip of the drum wouldn't come past the shoes without putting an Astro Thor G2 on a heavy duty drum puller, cranking the air past 150 psi and giving it all the beans.

 

[OldnSlo]

Spock says, check the other side. Perhaps logic prevails.

 

[PCustoms]

No socket fits it. It's a drum brake adjuster. It sure as hell didn't get bent manually adjusting it with a screwdriver/brake tool turning the toothed gear through the hole.

I should have added a to my post...

Somebody sure reefed on that thing with the improper tools. I'm almost impressed, as the rest of it doesn't show much damage.

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

I think I had to force the drum off at one point a few years back due to rust and it being stuck, with the forcing screws. Maybe that caused it, I'm not sure. There's two holes through the drum for this exact purpose.

 

[Modern Garage]

I've seen them bent like that after the shoes get so worn the adjuster falls out and gets caught and jammed in between the inner end of a wheel stud and some other hardware inside the drum. I've also seen them come in with the teeth worn clean off the star wheel from rolling around inside of the drum so long
"What noise? Turn up the radio!"

 

[Zewnten]

Probably not rust but forgot to back the adjuster off before removing the drum. Don't be too hard on yourself seen it several times, it's a learning process.

 

[Rinspeed]

I'd go get a salvage oem one before I even considered replacing it with a Dorman part, but that's just me.

Lol, it's a POS 25 y/o old car, don't be such a ****.

 

[WWheeler]

Lol, it's a POS 25 y/o old car, don't be such a ****.

If you don't mind ******* your time and money away on a part made by a company that can't get even the most simple parts right, knock yourself out. Everything made by Dorman gets sent back at least once in our shop. At home I save my time and frustrations for a part I know will fit.

 

[Rinspeed]

Everything made by Dorman gets sent back at least once in our shop.

That just means you work for an idiot. We're talking about a simple shoe adjustment screw for a ****ing 2005 Camry, it's not a damn 2018 MB GLE 350.

 

[WWheeler]

That just means you work for an idiot. We're talking about a simple shoe adjustment screw for a ****ing 2005 Camry, it's not a damn 2018 MB GLE 350.

I work for an idiot because NAPA's delivery truck shows up with **** parts with the Dorman name on them every day that we have to send back over and over ?? They really can't even make a drain plug right. I wouldn't bet a nickle against a dollar that they'd show up with a Dorman adjustment screw that would work.

 

[whateg01]

I've never had a faulty brake shoe adjuster screw in a kit.

 

[finn]

Either the shoes had excessive wear causing it to overextend, or the shoes got hung up on the drum and it bent during removal.

Typically the adjusters are corroded trash by the time the shoes need replacement, so they are replaced along with the pins, springs, hold downs, etc as a matter of course.

I’ve never heard of someone so cheap that they got used parts from the salvage yard, which are certainly corroded and worn garbage, rather than spending a few dollars for a kit, even Dorman.

 

[Rinspeed]

I’ve never heard of someone so cheap that they got used parts from the salvage yard, which are certainly corroded and worn garbage, rather than spending a few dollars for a kit, even Dorman.

That was the main point of me busting his chops.

 

[geneg]

Drum Brakes, 2005 Camry

Is the threaded portion supposed to be bent like this? This is part of the drum brakes. It's a pretty thick screw, so I find it hard to believe somehow this got bent. But when disassembling it "wobbled". I unscrewed it completely and noticed that it was bent. So this thing.


Can anyone confirm this is normal? Find it hard to believe it being bent is normal, but also find it hard to believe something happened to cause it to bend so badly.

Just have to ask--- did the shoes wear & work properly? It's obvious that they didn't self adjust for the range of travel. I'd have to think drum pulling on the last brake job. Other side look normal?

 

[zimman]

I work for an idiot because NAPA's delivery truck shows up with **** parts with the Dorman name on them every day that we have to send back over and over ?? They really can't even make a drain plug right. I wouldn't bet a nickle against a dollar that they'd show up with a Dorman adjustment screw that would work.

I just retired from parts (ASE P2) after 25 years and that's just not true. My last store had at least 40 shops and this just does not happen. Sounds to my like your tech's are throwing parts at cars from ten feet to see what sticks.
Zim

 

[joe_padavano]

To the OP: Obviously it is not supposed to be like that. How would the star wheel turn the adjuster? Just buy another one. We've spent more time talking about this than it takes to just fix it.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I'd go get a salvage oem one before I even considered replacing it with a Dorman part, but that's just me.

My teen car had rear drum brakes. Thinking back, I was driving it when an adjuster punched through the drum. I forgot to thank Dad for going for OEM parts so much.

I’ve never heard of someone so cheap that they got used parts from the salvage yard, which are certainly corroded and worn garbage, rather than spending a few dollars for a kit, even Dorman.

Come on. Parts off a known running vehicle are like a butterfly above a thong and a vape. And not every geographic area is salted to hell and back.

 

[finn]

My teen car had rear drum brakes. Thinking back, I was driving it when an adjuster punched through the drum. I forgot to thank Dad for going for OEM parts so much.

Come on. Parts off a known running vehicle are like a butterfly above a thong and a vape. And not every geographic area is salted to hell and back.

Drag yourself out to a bug infested, muddy, and swampy salvage yard to save $6.00 on crusty, worn out springs, pins, retainers, and adjusters?

No effin way.

Something of value, or unobtainable, I’m ok with, but not wear parts like brake hardware. Not even when I was a broke college kid living in a tuna can in the middle of the road.

A hold down kit for a 65 Mustang is $3.06. That’s about what it costs to enter a U Pull It yard, isn’t it?

 

[L.Cheapo]

Years ago, my dad's Ranger had the friction material come off one of the shoes. There was at least half life remaining on them when it happened. Driving it when it caught was like being rear ended. Caused all kinds of hell inside the drum. I replaced everything.

 

[dscheidt]

I just retired from parts (ASE P2) after 25 years and that's just not true. My last store had at least 40 shops and this just does not happen. Sounds to my like your tech's are throwing parts at cars from ten feet to see what sticks.
Zim

Dorman make (or at least sell) a whole lot of parts. Many of them are fine, some are good, and a bunch are utter garbage.

 

[whateg01]

My teen car had rear drum brakes. Thinking back, I was driving it when an adjuster punched through the drum. I forgot to thank Dad for going for OEM parts so much.

Come on. Parts off a known running vehicle are like a butterfly above a thong and a vape. And not every geographic area is salted to hell and back.

I don't know anybody who would get a brake adjuster from the salvage yard. If I had a parts car, I might use it to avoid a trip to the store. But I have also seen used brake pads on fbmp.

 

[joe_padavano]

I don't know anybody who would get a brake adjuster from the salvage yard.

So you clearly don't know anybody who owns a car that isn't supported in the replacement/repro parts world. Lucky you.

 

[Mick56]

After buying plenty of aftermarket junk, I much prefer good used OEM.