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-   -   Saturn SL Brake Star-Wheel adjuster (http://www.autobanter.com/showthread.php?t=12676)

Gary Compton July 16th 04 02:18 AM

Saturn SL Brake Star-Wheel adjuster
 
Adjusting the star-wheel on a 1993 SL1 requires a uniquely shaped adjustment
tool as the star-wheel is not behind the access slot. Rather, it is
several inches away - toward the rear. In other words, the slot in the
backing plate is nearer the front shoe, and the star-wheel is nearer the
back shoe. I've seen a picture of the tool in a Chilton's manual, but can't
find one.

Does anyone know where they are sold? Why didn't Saturn put the slot
directly behind the star-wheel, like everyone else?

Gary



Gary Compton July 17th 04 04:00 AM

I'll answer my own question in case anyone is interested (not likely,
judging from the response). I was able to fashion a tool which worked
adequately by bending a long thin bladed screwdriver to an angle of about 35
degrees about and inch and three quarters from the tip. Hint - heat the
blade with a torch before bending. Thus modified, I was able to reach and
adjust the star-wheel through the access slot, using the side of the bent
screwdriver to turn the wheel. The brake peddle is now up where it belongs.

"Gary Compton" > wrote in message
...
> Adjusting the star-wheel on a 1993 SL1 requires a uniquely shaped

adjustment
> tool as the star-wheel is not behind the access slot. Rather, it is
> several inches away - toward the rear. In other words, the slot in the
> backing plate is nearer the front shoe, and the star-wheel is nearer the
> back shoe. I've seen a picture of the tool in a Chilton's manual, but

can't
> find one.
>
> Does anyone know where they are sold? Why didn't Saturn put the slot
> directly behind the star-wheel, like everyone else?
>
> Gary
>
>




Napalm Heart July 17th 04 01:51 PM


"Gary Compton" > wrote in message
...
> Adjusting the star-wheel on a 1993 SL1 requires a uniquely shaped

adjustment
> tool as the star-wheel is not behind the access slot. Rather, it

is
> several inches away - toward the rear. In other words, the slot in

the
> backing plate is nearer the front shoe, and the star-wheel is nearer

the
> back shoe. I've seen a picture of the tool in a Chilton's manual,

but can't
> find one.
>
> Does anyone know where they are sold? Why didn't Saturn put the

slot
> directly behind the star-wheel, like everyone else?
>
> Gary
>
>


Is it possible that the car was improperly reassembled at some point
before you got it?

Ken



Kevin M. Keller July 17th 04 04:00 PM

"Napalm Heart" > typed until their fingers bled,
and came up with:


> Is it possible that the car was improperly reassembled at some point
> before you got it?
>


Not unless they all were.


--
Visit the Saturn Performance Club - http://www.saturnperformanceclub.com

David Teichholtz July 17th 04 04:27 PM


"Napalm Heart" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Is it possible that the car was improperly reassembled at some point
> before you got it?


This is what I thought. There is a similar post from a couple of weeks ago
that I started when I saw the same problem with my car. I thought the
backing plates had been switched. But apparently, this is the way Saturn
designed the brakes.

My idea is to make a second slot which lines up with the star adjuster. I
have not tried this yet.

-David



Gary Compton July 18th 04 12:53 AM

David:

How would you make a new hole? Seems difficult.
"David Teichholtz" > wrote in message
k.net...
>
> "Napalm Heart" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> >
> > Is it possible that the car was improperly reassembled at some point
> > before you got it?

>
> This is what I thought. There is a similar post from a couple of weeks

ago
> that I started when I saw the same problem with my car. I thought the
> backing plates had been switched. But apparently, this is the way

Saturn
> designed the brakes.
>
> My idea is to make a second slot which lines up with the star adjuster. I
> have not tried this yet.
>
> -David
>
>




Napalm Heart July 18th 04 12:39 PM


"Kevin M. Keller" > wrote in message
...
> "Napalm Heart" > typed until their

fingers bled,
> and came up with:
>
>
> > Is it possible that the car was improperly reassembled at some

point
> > before you got it?
> >

>
> Not unless they all were.
>
>


Fortunately, I haven't had to change the rear brakes on our '96 SL2
yet, even though we've had it for about 4 years and 50,000 miles.
I'll likely have to do them soon, as the fronts went about a week
after a similar post. ;+) Glad I got the heads up on this here.

Ken

> --
> Visit the Saturn Performance Club -

http://www.saturnperformanceclub.com



Blah Blah July 18th 04 04:24 PM

In article >,
says...
>
> "Kevin M. Keller" > wrote in message
> ...
> > "Napalm Heart" > typed until their

> fingers bled,
> > and came up with:
> >
> >
> > > Is it possible that the car was improperly reassembled at some

> point
> > > before you got it?
> > >

> >
> > Not unless they all were.
> >
> >

>
> Fortunately, I haven't had to change the rear brakes on our '96 SL2
> yet, even though we've had it for about 4 years and 50,000 miles.
> I'll likely have to do them soon, as the fronts went about a week
> after a similar post. ;+) Glad I got the heads up on this here.
>
> Ken
>
> > --
> > Visit the Saturn Performance Club -

> http://www.saturnperformanceclub.com


The front brakes do about 80% of the braking. The rear brakes tend to
last 100k miles or far longer.


David Teichholtz July 18th 04 09:49 PM


"Gary Compton" > wrote in message
...
> David:
>
> How would you make a new hole? Seems difficult.



Nah.. Use a drill bit to measure the width of the current slot. After
marking where you want the new slot, use the bit that matched the width and
drill two holes, one at each end of the slot. Then use your pneumatic metal
cutting wheel (wizzer wheel) and cut the metal to connect the two holes.
Finish up with a file and you are done. A standard brake adjusting rubber
cap will then be used to seal the slot, exactly as the current one is
sealed.

-David



Napalm Heart July 19th 04 02:07 PM


"Blah Blah" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> says...
> >
> > "Kevin M. Keller" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > "Napalm Heart" > typed until their

> > fingers bled,
> > > and came up with:
> > >
> > >
> > > > Is it possible that the car was improperly reassembled at some

> > point
> > > > before you got it?
> > > >
> > >
> > > Not unless they all were.
> > >
> > >

> >
> > Fortunately, I haven't had to change the rear brakes on our '96

SL2
> > yet, even though we've had it for about 4 years and 50,000 miles.
> > I'll likely have to do them soon, as the fronts went about a week
> > after a similar post. ;+) Glad I got the heads up on this here.
> >
> > Ken
> >
> > > --
> > > Visit the Saturn Performance Club -

> > http://www.saturnperformanceclub.com

>
> The front brakes do about 80% of the braking. The rear brakes tend

to
> last 100k miles or far longer.
>


Not usually for me. ;+)

Ken




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