Not a good design?

[hoover]

Hi everyone, I've just finished a rear brake overhaul, this included new caliper seals, pistons and dust seals, bleed nipples etc, new discs, parking brake shoes and handbrake cables. I am interested to know if anybody here has tried to adjust the rear shoes as I think the engineering in this area is pretty poor, as the ratchet adjuster can be turned reasonably well in one direction but damn near impossible in the other, the reason being the top return spring sits between the adjuster teeth, (acting as an anti turning lock) which only wants to override one way, regards.

[Razorback1980]

They are that way by design. You definitely don't want them backing off easily causing you to lose braking power. American cars (with brake shoes) are built that way as well. They have auto adjusters that turn the adjusting screw automatically to keep the shoes the right distance from the drums but the self adjusters prevent the adjustment screw from backing off and loosening the brakes. That can make changing them difficult but having them easy to turn both directions is not something you want.

[Slam]

A little lithium grease on rebuild and mine turned either way but with the ratcheting effect described above. Too stiff? I used a stout screwdriver and a hammer to knock 'em back one tooth at a time - carefully, mind.