Saturn SL Brake Star-Wheel adjuster

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gary Compton
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Gary Compton

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
 
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 said:
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
Click to expand...

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

Ken
 
"Napalm Heart" <olsonfam*nospam*@iserv.net> 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?
Click to expand...

Not unless they all were.
 
Napalm Heart said:
Is it possible that the car was improperly reassembled at some point
before you got it?
Click to expand...

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
 
Kevin M. Keller said:
"Napalm Heart" <olsonfam*nospam*@iserv.net> typed until their fingers bled,
and came up with:



Not unless they all were.
Click to expand...

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
http://www.saturnperformanceclub.com
 
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
http://www.saturnperformanceclub.com
Click to expand...

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

How would you make a new hole? Seems difficult.
Click to expand...


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

Not usually for me. ;+)

Ken
 
I did the rear brakes on my son's '96 SL1 at 112K miles. They were still
original equipment, but the car saw a lot of highway miles. I had no
trouble setting the adjusters before re-installing the drums. I replaced
the springs and other hardware at the same time and turned the drums too.

Bob
..
> The front brakes do about 80% of
the braking. The rear brakes tend to
 
great info Gary can't find my chiltons for this year to see the tool shape
tried to get into the tiny port for starwheel and ran into same issue - spring is behind hole and very little space behind there to move any screwdrivers or anything - amazed you were able to function in that space and met with success!
 
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