When I got my 1200 last week, one of the things I immediately noticed was that the brake pedal wasn't rock-solid like my old 1200. So I got out there today in the hot summer sun and fixed that. Here are my notes.

Rear brake adjustment

Brake pedal have play in it? Datsun 1200s shouldn't. They have a wonderfully firm pedal when properly adjusted.

Disc-brakes are self-adjusting. But the drum brakes need an adjustment after replacing the shoes, and periodicaly due to normal wear. The normal schedule for a complete brake inspection is every 12 months. But if you just want to adjust the rear brakes, it is very easy. The brake fluid level will also go down as the brake shoes wear, this is normal.

Here's how to adjust the rear brakes. It will take 10-30 minutes to accomplish:



rear brake adjustment

details

1. Securely block front wheels -- both sides. Car should be on a level surface.
Place transmission in nuetral.
Parking brake OFF, as you will need to be able to spin the back wheel by hand
Pump the brake pedal a few times to position the brake shoes

2.
Jack up rear wheel (one side).
NOTE: Before getting under the car, put a jackstand under the car, just in case; safety first
The reason you need to block both front wheels is that with the standard jack, when you jack the back wheel off the ground, it lifts the front wheel on the same side as well.

3. Use the handy cardboard or mechanic's creeper board if you have one
Get under there.
Find the adjuster. It is a 1/4 inch square stud near the top of the backside of the drum. Originally it was covered by a black rubber cover, but those are probably long gone. If the cover is there, twist and pull it off.
Using a 1/4 inch open wrench, turn the adjuster clockwise to tighten.
You will feel it "click" into place with each quarter-turn. As you slightly move the wrench this way or that you'll find the flat. Turn it using light one-hand force until it won't turn another quarter-turn. You should be able to spin the tire by hand.
Now turn it one more 1/4 turn using moderate force. The tire may drag a little, but you can still turn it with one hand. Slightly move the wrench this way and that to center the adjuster. If the wheel cannot be turned with one hand, ya got it too tight, so back the adjuster off a quarter turn.
Repeat for other side.

Brake Pedal should now have practically zero play in it. Nice firm action. Helps with brake reaction times too, so this is good for safety.

Thanks for that DD,
Thats going straight into the pool room

Cheers
Damo


PS People who don't live in Aust might not get that joke

Yeah, well, I hope someone actually uses this information. But if not, it'll be here in our big Datto pool room ...

just a quick tip, if u try to adjust ur brakes but cant because the adjuster is rusted solid like mine was, when u are trying to get it all freed up DO NOT break off the small eyelet that holds ur brake shoe springs.i did this because i had to heat the adjuster to get it all apart, it wasnt hard to fix u just have to make up an eyelet and screw it but if u are unable to make this u will be up #### creek.

another quick tip i always used was to get a 1/4 inch drive socket,put it onto the adjusted backwards so the drive is on the adjuster,then get an allen key the same size as the hex size of the socket.this gives you better 'grip' on the adjuster,with less chance of rounding off.it also gives you more torque for rusty adjusters.

Stop showing off your sexy hubcaps!

They look really good. But it looks like you need to pull apart the rear axle and sandblast it clean and get it repainted, before it gets too rusty.

Chris.

Now........is that clockwise outside looking in.....or inside looking out??? PS: my local parts supply house said 1200 drums & rotors are no longer available. We'll see. It sucks that one "little" part can curb your old car.

To tighten bolts, turn clockwise (as you look at it).

Aren't the brake drums the same as 1974-1978 B210? Hey, even the 1979-1982 B310 is the same:

43206-18000 DRUM-brake B110
43206-18000 DRUM-brake B210
43206-18000 DRUM-brake B310