1974 VEGA REAR BRAKE QUESTION

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1974 VEGA REAR BRAKE QUESTION

Postby RUFF » Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:39 pm

How do you adjust up the rear brakes on a 1974 vega wagon?
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Re: 1974 VEGA REAR BRAKE QUESTION

Postby cjbiagi » Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:00 pm

Those brakes do not have the normal self adjusting feature like most GM cars including 76 and later H bodies. I believe on these early brakes pulling the emergency brake lever up and and down adjusted them.
Clyde.........75 Monza 2+2
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Re: 1974 VEGA REAR BRAKE QUESTION

Postby nutt » Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:21 pm

Ha! That's not a "kneuter valve" response is it?? 8)
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Re: 1974 VEGA REAR BRAKE QUESTION

Postby cjbiagi » Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:30 pm

Nope, I believe actuating the emergency brake is how those early brakes were adjusted. I used to have those on my 75 Monza but I upgraded to the later H body brakes which incorporate the standard GM self-adjusting feature.
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Re: 1974 VEGA REAR BRAKE QUESTION

Postby RUFF » Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:59 pm

The e-brake bar looks like it has some sort a adjuster on it.. Think mine is rusted up. Can these be taken apart and cleaned?
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Re: 1974 VEGA REAR BRAKE QUESTION

Postby RUFF » Thu Jan 15, 2015 10:34 pm

Anyone know?
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Re: 1974 VEGA REAR BRAKE QUESTION

Postby Monzamaddogger » Fri Jan 16, 2015 5:25 am

There are little metsl spring tabs on the adjusters that can break off rendering tje adjusters useless. GM had a special tool to reset the adjusters without breaking the tabs. I've got a pair of NOS adjusters if you need them and can't find them elsewhere.
-Adam

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'80 Monza Spyder (driver)
'76 Sunbird (14,000 original miles)
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Re: 1974 VEGA REAR BRAKE QUESTION

Postby kgroombr » Fri Jan 16, 2015 10:37 am

I have broken a few e-brake adjusters because of the rust. They use a double nut to keep it from loosening up so you have to use two wrenches to break them loose. If you can't get it to move, the best thing I have found is a lot of heat, but even then, I have broken them off. At that point, I remove the e-brake, cut off the end of the rod and weld on a new threaded section.

The brake adjuster tool makes collapsing the strut (that strange adjuster in the early Vega brakes) a lot easier. I wouldn't know how to do it without the tool, but the tool can be found on ebay for about $10 which includes shipping. I think it is worth it. Search for “Vega brake tool”. When you see the number “2307” that is it.

Good luck,
Ken
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