DanielC Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 This is a "how to" adjust 521 drum brakes. First, find a level place to park the truck. Adjust the front wheel first. they are the easiest. You do not want the truck to move while you are working on the brakes. Set the parking brake, put the truck in gear. I like how Datsun set up the hand brake so that if you try to drive with the hand brake on, when you shift to first gear, your hand pretty much hits the hand brake handle. Lets do the left side first. Turn the steering wheel all the way left. This makes it easier to reach the back of the left wheel. Jack the left wheel and tire off the ground. Remove the dust cover. If yours are missing, I was able to get new ones at a local Nissan dealer, but that was in 2013. You can see the star wheel inside the brake backing plate. I have found an ordinary screwdriver works best on the front wheels. Stick the screwdriver in the hole, and pry the star wheel DOWN to spread the shoes. the star wheel should turn easy at first, and then get tight, after a while. When the star wheel starts getting tight, try rotate the tire and wheel forward and backwards. If you can rotate the wheel and tire, keep tightening the star wheel, by prying it down. When you cannot turn the wheel and tire, go and step on the brake pedal hard. Try to rotate the tire and wheel again. If you can, pry down on the star wheel some more. Once you get to where the tire and wheel cannot be turned, loosen the star wheel 10 to 12 clicks. Rotate the wheel. It should spin freely, without drag. A light scraping sound is OK. Put the boot back on, turn the steering wheel straight, lower the left side of the truck. Jack up the right side, turn the steering wheel hard right, and adjust the right side the same way as the left. The star wheel still turns down to move the brake shoes closer to the drum. OK, front brakes are adjusted. Block both the front wheels, forward and back. Release the parking brake, and take the transmission out of gear. Jack up the rear wheel on one side. Shake the truck a bit, so you know it cannot fall off the jack. Remove the rear dust cover. This view was taken from in front of the rear tire. The slot to adjust the rear brakes is slightly forward of the center of the wheel. It is easier to get to from the front of the rear wheel. It is hard to see the star wheel on the rear. You have to just feel for it, in the hole. For the rear wheels, I use this pry bar. Another view of the pry bar. Just like the front wheels, you turn the star wheel down to spread the shoes, until you cannot turn the wheel any more. This is why you have to block both front wheels. The truck can roll, and possibly fall off the jack. After you cannot turn the wheel and tire, loosen the star wheel 10 to 12 clicks. Put the dust cover back on, and do the other side. Take the truck for a test drive. Brake lightly at first. If the truck pulls to one side or the other, the side the truck pulls to, has the brakes adjusted tighter than the other side. Loosen the star wheel on that side, or tighten the star wheel on the side it pulls away from. If the truck stops in a straight line, without pulling to either side, Do a medium stop, and a few hard stops, AWAY from traffic. If you have not adjusted the brakes in a while, you will notice the brake pedal higher than it was. If there is a big change you will need to readjust the brakes again, soon. Driving a 521 without the brakes adjusted will wear out one end of the brake shoes very quickly, and you will have to replace shoes much more often. The brakes also do not work as well, when they are out of adjustment. 8 1 Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted February 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 Thanks! If you have a 521, go and adjust the brakes. It needs it as least as often as oil changes. 2 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted April 23, 2015 Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 Daniel how about editing this and adding the emergency brake adjustment after the brake adjustment? Great writeup Daniel! Quote Link to comment
Albertc454 Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Is their something I can do if the star wheel or adjustment peace is stuck? 1 Quote Link to comment
uberkevin Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 I just had to deal with this program on my rear.. Had to be replaced, after soaking in vinegar I couldn't free it. So you must remove things to get it out. So get it out. Put it in a vise and see if you can get it free. If not soak, and try again. The adjuster piece that looks like you can turn it with a screw driver well that may turn the other direction so remember that when taking it apart. The gear is basically a cylinder that get stupid rustey.. put some anti seize on after cleaning . 1 Quote Link to comment
Albertc454 Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 And I need the lock plate for the adjustment assembly or as u call it the star wheel?would you know how I could get ahold of that? 1 Quote Link to comment
uberkevin Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Other then getting them from another person? The junk yards.. Buying new ones may have the clips. I don't see why it wouldn't it's kinda essential.. haha 1 Quote Link to comment
bananahamuck Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Is their something I can do if the star wheel or adjustment peace is stuck? You could buy a new one ,, Rockauto shows them for your truck under Brake / Miscellaneous Hardware http://www.rockauto.com/ 2 Quote Link to comment
uberkevin Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 I wasn't sure if there was a left or right.. I didn't go this way cuz they only list one. I'm sure it can be used however. Haha 1 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Yes there is a left and a right. Pricey but they show having both sides new. Scroll down about a third of the way http://www.new-datsun-parts.com/datsun-pickup-parts.html 50 ASSY-ADJUSTER RH 41200-32200 $25.84 Nissan Parts Deal 51 ASSY-ADJUSTER LH 41201-32200 $25.84 Nissan Parts Deal Call Nissan Parts Deal and verify that they can still get these. The same adjusters are used on 520 521 620 and early 720 2wd Non self adjusting brakes. Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted April 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 There is a left and a right. Left hand threads go on the left side. 1 Quote Link to comment
uberkevin Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 I thought so^ But you could use left on the right side correct? 1 Quote Link to comment
bananahamuck Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Just under $9 plus shipping. 2 Quote Link to comment
uberkevin Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Well thanks! Haha I looked not long ago and they listed one. Can't do links?... what the fuck!! ????? That's for a different thread tho. 2 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 No you can not switch sides right is right and left is left on adjusters, 1 Quote Link to comment
dat521gatherer Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Is their something I can do if the star wheel or adjustment peace is stuck? Put them in a vice, lube generously with wd-40 or kroil, pound and twist with very large hammer and channel lock pliers. This won't be easy and may take a while. Be careful the aluminium is soft. If you get them apart wire wheel the living hell out of them. Good luck. Before pounding and twisting push out the star wheel lock plate. You can tap it out with a flat tip screw driver and hammer. 2 Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted April 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 "But you could use left on the right side correct?" You can, but then you will have to remember that the adjuster turns the wrong way to tighten the brakes. Normally, turning the star wheel DOWN spreads the shoes. 1 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Using on the wrong side puts the star in a hard to reach place for adjusting. These are also right and left hand threads as Daniel pointed out. Quote Link to comment
Albertc454 Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 Thanks everyone. I wanna soak the adjustment assembly in brake fluid over night then I'll try your method dat521gatherer 1 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 If you need the adjusters for the rear Rock auto has them. But they are closing them out. These adjusters fit 1968 to 1980 520, 521, 620, 720 trucks 1968 to 1983 BECK/ARNLEY Part # 0850024 Rear Adjuster LEFT $8.68 BECK/ARNLEY Part # 0850032 Rear Adjuster RIGHT $8.68 1 Quote Link to comment
Ed-datsun521 Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Do they also fit the front ? I'm so confused 1 Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted February 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 I am going to post this here. http://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsun/pickup-1965-1972 Part numbers for the adjusters are the same front and rear, so a front can be used in the rear. The adjuster assemblies are right hand threaded, and left hand threaded. Left hand thread adjusters go on the left side of the truck. 1 Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 Thanks, Daniel. Drove my 521 about 100 miles today with no brakes :[. Got to where I could work on it, adjusted all the brakes and bled all the air out of the lines. Stops nicely now. One thing to note...not all of my adjusters turn the same way to tighten. 1 Quote Link to comment
HOGIE Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 If the adjusters are installed on the correct sides you should always be able to bring the shoes in(loosen) by rotating the adjuster up, and to spread(tighten) the shoes rotate the adjuster down. Loosen Up, Tighten Down. Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 Yeah, I would think they would be the same, but PO had obviously done work on them before. One didn't have the same size bleeder either.. 1 Quote Link to comment
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