The Volvo green book on 544 drums is a little vague on adjustment. It seems to say to expand the starwheel adjuster until you can just turn the drum with one hand and then back off 12 clicks.

This description leaves a lot of leeway depending on how strong a hand is used. Would Steven Hawkings get the same setting as Arnold Schwartzenager? Probably not.

I ended up with fairly comfortable braking after following the green book instructions but would be interested in ensuring that a reasonable basis was used as a starting point.

Thanks,

Joe M in WV

I agree with the other posters and would like to add...

Once the brakes are tightened to the point where there is significant drag, get in and tromp on the brake pedal and pull on the e-brake handle a few times. This will get the shoes centralized so you can back-off with confidence that all will be well and equal from side to side (do it during each drum's adjustment). Obviously, you don't need to yank on the parking brake handle for the fronts.

Mike!

I think during the process I would smack various places on the OD of the
drum with a medium hammer to make sure the shoes are vertically centered
as well as horizontally. And I agree with Matt that 12 clicks is a LOT.
All you really want is minimal or no drag. A tiny bit will help break
the brakes in more quickly.
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Central US

Twelve (12) clicks back??? geez.. that seems like a LOT of clicks to me.

I always tightened 'em up on click at a time till I could no longer turn the drum with my hand, then back it of one or two clicks until I could easily turn the drum, but still hear it scrape just a tad... but still be able to easily turn the drum itself, no wheel attached... If you are turning a wheel with tire, you've got lots more leverage, and it would be easy to have 'em too tight.

Of course, I may be way off the mark... my experience is with rear drums on a 122 or 1800.

-Matt
--
-Matt '70 145s, '65 1800s, '66 122s wagon, others inc. '53 XK120 FHC

Basically the same drums (will interchange) but different adjuster.
I wouldn't back 'em off any further than it took to get them to run free.
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Central US

this process always gets me going. i never did master the adjustment but a tool was made to measure the resistance so i am told by a old friend.

I used to back off the adjuster / star wheel just enough to have the wheel turn without any friction from the brake pads. It is always a listening thing more than anything else. It seemed wo work pretty good, then go back in a few weeks and repeat it after the "fuzz" is worn off. It has been many years since I did this so maybe the newer pads don't need the second adjustment.
DC