Tornado Fuel Saver
- Thread starter nickvelevski
- Start date
Brake adjustment - on cars with drum brakes, this is actually *very* important. The shoes must be adjusted so they are close to but not dragging constantly on the drum. There's a screw kinda like a turnbuckle that lets you do this.
On cars with disk brakes, there's no adjustment like this, but it's important to have properly maintained calipers so that they don't keep pressure on the rotor. This can happen if either the caliper guide bolts or piston and cylinder are dirty/rusted.
All this stuff would normally be checked during routine brake replacements.
On cars with disk brakes, there's no adjustment like this, but it's important to have properly maintained calipers so that they don't keep pressure on the rotor. This can happen if either the caliper guide bolts or piston and cylinder are dirty/rusted.
All this stuff would normally be checked during routine brake replacements.
Look at the other crap this company sells - the ProStarter 2 "emergency car battery" with a whopping 5.5 Amps of current. They sell it as though it will start a car with a dead battery!! With 5.5 Amps - hahahahahhahhahha!
Notice the slick $hit marketing crap - "Approved by the IATA & US DOT" - that doesn't prove or mean ANYTHING!
![[hah]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_hah.gif "Hah! [hah]")
"This high quality unit contains alkaline batteries (Approved by the I.A.T.A. & US Dept of Transportation) sealed inside a fire-retardant tough ABS casing. Containing more than 5.5 amps (14.5 volts) the Pro Starter 2 provides enough power to start your vehicle and best of all; you do so from the comfort and safety of being inside your vehicle!
Will hold a charge for up to 5 years
Re-useable over and over again
Doubles as an independant 12 volt power source"
![[rofl]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_rofl.gif "ROFL [rofl]")
Notice the slick $hit marketing crap - "Approved by the IATA & US DOT" - that doesn't prove or mean ANYTHING!
"This high quality unit contains alkaline batteries (Approved by the I.A.T.A. & US Dept of Transportation) sealed inside a fire-retardant tough ABS casing. Containing more than 5.5 amps (14.5 volts) the Pro Starter 2 provides enough power to start your vehicle and best of all; you do so from the comfort and safety of being inside your vehicle!
Will hold a charge for up to 5 years
Re-useable over and over again
Doubles as an independant 12 volt power source"
does bmw even make drum brakes? drum brakes are self adjusting anyway. when does anyone sit there and say. hmm i think its time to adjust my drum brakes! No one. You adjust drum brakes when you put them one and that’s it. Even if you don't adjust them they never get to tight. They can get loose from pad wear but not too tight. Unless your auto adjust is screwed up but that doesn't happen.
you don't ever adjust calipers, ever.
it was a ridicules thing to say. but you guys have to sit there and try to prove an invalid point. it is ridicules.
no one ever does it so why try to prove it.
hey my car feels sluggish today. i better adjust my drum brakes that that i don't even have.
you don't ever adjust calipers, ever.
it was a ridicules thing to say. but you guys have to sit there and try to prove an invalid point. it is ridicules.
no one ever does it so why try to prove it.
hey my car feels sluggish today. i better adjust my drum brakes that that i don't even have.
Kirby said:
Look at the other crap this company sells - the ProStarter 2 "emergency car battery" with a whopping 5.5 Amps of current. They sell it as though it will start a car with a dead battery!! With 5.5 Amps - hahahahahhahhahha!
Notice the slick $hit marketing crap - "Approved by the IATA & US DOT" - that doesn't prove or mean ANYTHING!
"This high quality unit contains alkaline batteries (Approved by the I.A.T.A. & US Dept of Transportation) sealed inside a fire-retardant tough ABS casing. Containing more than 5.5 amps (14.5 volts) the Pro Starter 2 provides enough power to start your vehicle and best of all; you do so from the comfort and safety of being inside your vehicle!
Will hold a charge for up to 5 years
Re-useable over and over again
Doubles as an independant 12 volt power source"
Notice the slick $hit marketing crap - "Approved by the IATA & US DOT" - that doesn't prove or mean ANYTHING!
"This high quality unit contains alkaline batteries (Approved by the I.A.T.A. & US Dept of Transportation) sealed inside a fire-retardant tough ABS casing. Containing more than 5.5 amps (14.5 volts) the Pro Starter 2 provides enough power to start your vehicle and best of all; you do so from the comfort and safety of being inside your vehicle!
Will hold a charge for up to 5 years
Re-useable over and over again
Doubles as an independant 12 volt power source"
First of all, the comment was about CARS in general and adjusting brakes, nothing was SPECIFIC to new BMWs. New BMWs have disk brakes, but older BMWs have drum brakes.
Yes, they have automatic adjusters, but they MUST be manually adjusted when new shoes are put on or you have NO brakes at all, and adjusted EVERY inspection, at least here in PA.
Some disc brake assemblies use a mechanical linkage to compress the caliper for parking brake use - my Volvo for example. If this is not adjusted properly the pads will bind on the disk continuously, the same as if the parking brake is partially on.
My comment also clearly stated that the problem occurs on disk brakes when the calipers are dirty. The piston extends when you step on the brake, and does not retract due to dirt and rust, and continues to rub on the disk.
I have changed dozens of drum brake shoes and disk brake pads in the past 30 years. The only ignorant one is YOU. I'll be glad to share this very uncommon knowledge - uncommon only to YOU!
Since you require proof, check these links:
http://www.type2.com/library/brakes/brakeadjust.html
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/drum-brake2.htm
http://jeffzepp.cruiserpages.com/tech/brakes.htm
http://autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/a/aa031701a.htm
Tools specifically for the job:
http://www.autospecialtytools.com/cgi-bin/dyn.exe?doc=brake2.dht&
This one even talks about the exact topic at hand here, parking brakes and fuel economy, bozo:
http://www.leeric.lsu.edu/bgbb/7/ecep/auto/c/c.htm
If this is not enough proof, let me know, I'll find plenty more.
Yes, they have automatic adjusters, but they MUST be manually adjusted when new shoes are put on or you have NO brakes at all, and adjusted EVERY inspection, at least here in PA.
Some disc brake assemblies use a mechanical linkage to compress the caliper for parking brake use - my Volvo for example. If this is not adjusted properly the pads will bind on the disk continuously, the same as if the parking brake is partially on.
My comment also clearly stated that the problem occurs on disk brakes when the calipers are dirty. The piston extends when you step on the brake, and does not retract due to dirt and rust, and continues to rub on the disk.
I have changed dozens of drum brake shoes and disk brake pads in the past 30 years. The only ignorant one is YOU. I'll be glad to share this very uncommon knowledge - uncommon only to YOU!
Since you require proof, check these links:
http://www.type2.com/library/brakes/brakeadjust.html
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/drum-brake2.htm
http://jeffzepp.cruiserpages.com/tech/brakes.htm
http://autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/a/aa031701a.htm
Tools specifically for the job:
http://www.autospecialtytools.com/cgi-bin/dyn.exe?doc=brake2.dht&
This one even talks about the exact topic at hand here, parking brakes and fuel economy, bozo:
http://www.leeric.lsu.edu/bgbb/7/ecep/auto/c/c.htm
If this is not enough proof, let me know, I'll find plenty more.
Last edited:
Specifically, here are REAR CALIPER ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURES:
General Motors rear caliper adjustment:
http://www.911brakes.com/rearadjust.htm
Alfa Romeo (and other European cars):
http://www.clanger9.org.uk/alfa/brakes/rear.html#calipers
General Motors rear caliper adjustment:
http://www.911brakes.com/rearadjust.htm
Alfa Romeo (and other European cars):
http://www.clanger9.org.uk/alfa/brakes/rear.html#calipers
![[:)]](/images/smilies/smile.png "Smile [:)]")
What is a BM? ( I think bowel ..)
Do you post this on every forum you can find? Tired of telemarketing no doubt.
Wish you the best!
One quick favor?
Delete your post, and go elsewhere.
Just my thoughts, and it IS late. So it's probably just me.
Just thinking someone-or a site that caters to the "bolt on aluminum rear spoilers that actually slow the car down at normal speeds" crowd, (if you can find one high enough)might be a better target . Surely you've neglected them! Hell-give them a call! Check high school directories, or hang out in parking lots! (Rev engine a little)
Don't bring candy though-Michael learned that the hard way!
-Mel
Do you post this on every forum you can find? Tired of telemarketing no doubt.
Wish you the best!
One quick favor?
Delete your post, and go elsewhere.
Just my thoughts, and it IS late. So it's probably just me.
Just thinking someone-or a site that caters to the "bolt on aluminum rear spoilers that actually slow the car down at normal speeds" crowd, (if you can find one high enough)might be a better target . Surely you've neglected them! Hell-give them a call! Check high school directories, or hang out in parking lots! (Rev engine a little)
Don't bring candy though-Michael learned that the hard way!
-Mel
![[:p]](/images/smilies/tongue.png "Stick Out Tongue [:p]")
)
kirby- i didn't know that when adjusting calipers meant cleaning them. i didn't know that ever time i vacuum my carpet or wash the sink i am adjusting them.
I find it kind of funny that you just sat there and said everything i did. I did mention adjusting emergency brakes. I know you can adjust those. Once again they auto adjust. and you comment about putting new brakes on i know, i said you have to adjust them. did you read anything i posted? You're getting all flamed for some reason about what i said. It’s a forum, i'm trying to lay out facts that might help people.
since you were so strong about putting me down please tell me again of what information i am ignorant. I don't even know what you are arguing. You can't adjust disk breaks! emergency break yes, but only when you apply new pads! quit sitting there calling me ignorant for saying everything you did!
Drum brakes.... they auto adjust... during PA inspections they check to make sure that the auto adjust can still move and are not rusted stuck. The shop will not adjust them unless the auto adjust wasn't working(was stuck). If that was the fact then they would replace it and charge you. Now if you think really hard you will be able to see that if the auto adjust doesn't work then the brake will be further away from the drum than it should be because the brake pad wears... less pad makes SPACE between the two. It doesn't make it go closer and rub and hurt your gas mileage. So that means that any adjustments that you do will improve your braking and not affect your gas mileage.
I find it kind of funny that you just sat there and said everything i did. I did mention adjusting emergency brakes. I know you can adjust those. Once again they auto adjust. and you comment about putting new brakes on i know, i said you have to adjust them. did you read anything i posted? You're getting all flamed for some reason about what i said. It’s a forum, i'm trying to lay out facts that might help people.
since you were so strong about putting me down please tell me again of what information i am ignorant. I don't even know what you are arguing. You can't adjust disk breaks! emergency break yes, but only when you apply new pads! quit sitting there calling me ignorant for saying everything you did!
Drum brakes.... they auto adjust... during PA inspections they check to make sure that the auto adjust can still move and are not rusted stuck. The shop will not adjust them unless the auto adjust wasn't working(was stuck). If that was the fact then they would replace it and charge you. Now if you think really hard you will be able to see that if the auto adjust doesn't work then the brake will be further away from the drum than it should be because the brake pad wears... less pad makes SPACE between the two. It doesn't make it go closer and rub and hurt your gas mileage. So that means that any adjustments that you do will improve your braking and not affect your gas mileage.
I didn't try to, and am not trying to start a flame war. Check your original post about disk brake calipers:
"you don't ever adjust calipers, ever.
it was a ridicules thing to say. but you guys have to sit there and try to prove an invalid point. it is ridicules.
no one ever does it so why try to prove it.
hey my car feels sluggish today. i better adjust my drum brakes that that i don't even have."
As the GM and Alfa pages show (which are actually European Girling and/or Bendix brakes), the emergency brake is an integral part of the caliper and disk brake assembly. If the emergency brake mechanism is not adjusted properly, the normal brake mechanism won't work. They use the exact same disk, pads and caliper.
From GM:
"When installing rear disc brakes with calipers that have an internal parking brake you must adjust or set the calipers when installing. Failure to do so will prevent you from getting a firm pedal and you will have no rear brake function. You must also set the parking brake every time you park to keep the calipers adjusted."
I still maintain that this clearly says disk brake calipers are adjustable, in GM's words not mine. (I guess we could debate if anything GM says is true, but that's not the point.)
If it is adjusted too tight, it will bind against the disk continuously, wearing the pads and disk, reducing gas mileage and performance, which was the original discussion.
I know this *painfully* from first hand experience with my (formerly owned) '87 Fiero GT.
So, in my opinion, your statement:
you don't ever adjust calipers, ever. vs. GM you must adjust or set the calipers
your statement is wrong, which is OK! But...
it was a ridicules thing to say. but you guys have to sit there and try to prove an invalid point. it is ridicules.
no one ever does it so why try to prove it. "
ridicules the original poster, EPJ, who was right (which agitates me).
Perhaps we will have to agree to disagree, and that's OK with me.![[:D]](/images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin [:D]")
"you don't ever adjust calipers, ever.
it was a ridicules thing to say. but you guys have to sit there and try to prove an invalid point. it is ridicules.
no one ever does it so why try to prove it.
hey my car feels sluggish today. i better adjust my drum brakes that that i don't even have."
As the GM and Alfa pages show (which are actually European Girling and/or Bendix brakes), the emergency brake is an integral part of the caliper and disk brake assembly. If the emergency brake mechanism is not adjusted properly, the normal brake mechanism won't work. They use the exact same disk, pads and caliper.
From GM:
"When installing rear disc brakes with calipers that have an internal parking brake you must adjust or set the calipers when installing. Failure to do so will prevent you from getting a firm pedal and you will have no rear brake function. You must also set the parking brake every time you park to keep the calipers adjusted."
I still maintain that this clearly says disk brake calipers are adjustable, in GM's words not mine. (I guess we could debate if anything GM says is true, but that's not the point.)
If it is adjusted too tight, it will bind against the disk continuously, wearing the pads and disk, reducing gas mileage and performance, which was the original discussion.
I know this *painfully* from first hand experience with my (formerly owned) '87 Fiero GT.
So, in my opinion, your statement:
you don't ever adjust calipers, ever. vs. GM you must adjust or set the calipers
your statement is wrong, which is OK! But...
it was a ridicules thing to say. but you guys have to sit there and try to prove an invalid point. it is ridicules.
no one ever does it so why try to prove it. "
ridicules the original poster, EPJ, who was right (which agitates me).
Perhaps we will have to agree to disagree, and that's OK with me.
![[:(]](/images/smilies/frown.png "Frown [:(]")