How to install shims (pills)

[baba]

I need to shim the actuating rod in my front brakes. Would like to di it without taking the everything apart? I have the pills, just would like to find a way to insert them.

[Curtis in MA]

Take the wheel and hub off and slip them into the indent in the top of the wedge.

[MAG]

Raise the rod with needle nose pliers and slip the pill in as Curtis says.

[baba]

Thanks guys. I tried that but my fat fingers would not let me get the shim in place so I made a tool that spread the break shoes allowing the wedge to drop lower and let me put the shim in. Problem now is the after market shim did not seem to seat fully. My spreader holds the shoes far enough apart that I might be able to remove the wedge without disturbing anything. I will proceed with caution. I would post a picture if I can get SWMBO to show me how.

[[email protected]]

Easy to make your own brake pills.
A sheet of scrap sheet metal steel.
One old brake wedge
One old brake rod
One Hammer
Use the brake wedge in a vice and to use it as a punch die. Put a piece of steel on top of it and then hammer the rounded end of the brake rod on the metal into the hole of the “die”. It should punch out a new perfect sized pill…. Good luck…

[larrys40]

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It fairly simple to do it with everything together but has to be done this way. The later wedge studs with the flats make it easier as opposed to the full rounds.

Brake rod disconnected drum off force the actuating arm forcing the brakes on and wedge down fully. Place decent size screwdriver into the bottom of the wedge below the wedge stud outer washer. This holds the wedge downward.
Then take a pair of needle nose pliers and pull up the actuating pin which gives spaces between the wedge and pin. Hold your finger against the pin to hold it, then take the needle nose and with the cup up of the pill slip it into place on th top of the wedge. Once in the screwdriver below the wedge can be removed . Just takes a minute if all goes well.
It’s a matter of practice doing it a time or two and then you discover how cool and quick and easy it is. I have demonstrated this at some of the brake seminars I’ve given at the nationals. If you have the full circle style wedge studs it’s a bit tougher.

Give it try .
Larry Shepard

[old31]

You guys should make a video on making pills.