I'll have to echo Andy's statement on the dubious benefits of self-adjusting
brakes. On my GT6 one of the self-adjusting arms is snapped off, which I'm
told is a fairly common malady. When that happens you must pull the drum to
do any adjustment. At least with the Spit all you have to do is jack up the
wheel!
On my Spit I sacrificed a 6 in., 1/4 drive extension to make a dedicated brake
adjuster. I clamp a pair of vice grips around it and adjust away. Not
pretty, but it works.
D.
Andrew Mace wrote:
> On Tue, 9 Jun 1998 jak0pab@jak10.med.navy.mil wrote:
>
> > ...I do have a few questions, Is it possible to adjust [Spitfire rear
> > brakes] with the tires on (I couldn't seem to get to the screws)?
>
> I've always used what I guess is technically a spoke wrench to adjust
> mine. It can be done easily with tires/wheels in place. The wrench is made
> by Snap On, is about 8-9" long(?), and has very deep jaws that keep the
> wrench from slipping and/or rounding off a stubborn adjustor peg. The
> length also provides for a good bit of leverage, which makes the
> adjustment (and the "feel" of the adjustment) quite simple.
>
> > How often should I have to adjust them?
>
> Difficult to say. "As needed" would be the flippant, smart-ass answer :-),
> but probably about every 5000 miles or so, maybe a bit less. Certainly any
> noticeable increase in travel of either brake pedal or handbrake lever
> would be a signal to adjust again.
>
> > And is there an automatic adjustment
> > available on any of these cars?
>
> No, save for the very last of the GT6 Mk.3 models, which did have
> self-adjusting rear brakes (FWIW). A dubious benefit, IMHO.
>
> --Andy
>
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> * Andrew Mace, President and *
> * 10/Herald/Vitesse (Sports 6) Consultant *
> * Vintage Triumph Register *
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--
Dee Jackson Ph. 336-547-5007
Gilbarco Inc. Fax 336-547-5234
Greensboro, NC e-mail dee_jackson@gilbarco.com
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