What do these actually do? As I can't see how they automatically work?
Also where can you buy them from and how much? One of mine has a broken retaining clip...

They retain a small clearance between drum and shoe to compensate for wear.
This keeps your pedal travel nice and short aswell.
They set the starting point if you like...

If you pop one out... You will see that every time it is compressed and subsequently released the ratchet mechanism will try to lengthen the unit to compensate for wear.
Everytime you take your foot of the brake the springs on your shoes compress them... When you hit the pedal again they expand and if allowed will increment the little adjuster wheel to effectively lengthen them.

They are on eBay... Bloody rob tho!!
Marty.

Cheers for that..just had a little read up..
Can't believe they are £20+ each!!!
Are these genuine parts only?
What if I didn't fit them?

I think they are genuine.
You need to fit them.
You can strip out the spring mechanism and use a locknut to set the clearance instead.
The only downfall is youll be popping your drums off every few months for a quick readjustment. (once you feel your pedal travel a bit too far)

Marty.

Hello,
Nearer side rear was dragging and the handbrake came up too far. Sorted out on the side of road after some questionable braking was felt. suggested villain was the auto adjuster. Everything came off and worked afterwards.

Before a long trip, I checked if the wheel was free. It was not. So took it all to bits and found no difference to last time. However, the short handbrake cable had dropped just after the splitter underneath the drivers seat and the cable is extremely stiff. It works but with effort. The clip for retaining to the bracket at this point is missing.

Adjuster looks and works fine. Pistons are free. Shoes need a change very shortly.

4 questions
Any ideas on why the sudden drag/adjustment? Car is low miles 4k per year.
Does adjuster work on effect of both pedal and handbrake?
Are these stiff cable/drag related to cause the effect or are they coincidence?
If cable drops out of body bracket - does the handbrake drag?

Many thanks

David

Hi

From my experiences, the drag in the cables, although they shouldn't have any effect on the handbrake, more than likely will affect them. The adjusters on mine have lost the self adjusting element and refusing to pay the rrp, I Just adjust them in advance of the mot, or whenever the pedals travels a long way. Any sudden change topical feel could be any number of things, either a slipped adjuster, or other brake element. I would check the car over before using it again, as brakes are quite useful!

As for your other questions I'm not sure what you mean, but if you could clarify, I'd be happy to help you.

Cheers

Jamesatthews

Sorry, just to add, the adjuster moves the shoes to a slight clearance between the drum, so sets how far the handbrake or footballers move, but the adjuster doesn't move when either foot or hand brake is applied.

Cheers

Jamesatthews

Hello,

Many thanks. Removed cable and replacement in post. Adjusted up brakes and so far no binding of the rear wheel. Will check after replacing cable.

David

As JA says, you can live without the adjusters, but they save you a lot of hassle with regular adjustment. It is especially annoying as the bit that fails on the adjusters is a small spring steel clip that could probably be replaced for a few pence.

If/when you do replace the adjusters or cables, don't be tempted to reduce the handbrake travel too far. In my experience, setting the travel to 2-3 clicks on the handbrake ratchet doesn't allow the shoes to release fully, resulting in binding and overheating drums/shoes. In extreme cases, the heat soaks through to the slave cylinders, boiling the brake fluid and knackering the cylinder seals. Although it feels a bit odd, 5-7 clicks travel is a safer option.

Hello,

Thanks. Will look out for this when replacing.

David

I've had this happen.

I can't really comment about replacement as I have a "Fred-in-a-shed" who deals with these things.

A relatively cheap fix. I would imagine that this is common to many vehicles, FIAT & otherwise. Considering that your's is low mileage PA, it's probably only to be expected. Hard-driven motorway cars probably exercise their back brakes more...