I were feeling around the the backing plates of the rear hubs trying to find the hole where the brake adjustment is. It is dark and I could not find the hole. Is there one or is it the hole on the face of the brake drum?

The hole is in the outside of the hub. You don't even have to take the wheel off. I recommend backing the handbrake cables right off before you start and adjust the shoes. Then do the handbrake cables again. If you don't back the handbrake off, you won't get it right. You will find both adjusting stars just to right and left of the top, take a torch.

Good luck.

[Edited on 14-7-2003 by Split nut]

I was having trouble adjusting my brakes recently, I got it sorted by doing the following (it's actually really easy when you've got the hang of it):

1. I took the drums off and took the brakes apart: springs, shoes, tie bar, and adjusting stars. I cleaned them all with petrol and a toothbrush (taking care not to splash any on the linings).

2. I lubed adjusters and articulating surfaces VERY LIGHTLY with HIGH TEMPERATURE BRAKE GREASE (get it only from a good brake specialist) - it's important not to use too much so the grease doesn't drip onto the drums - just the lightest smear is all that's needed.

3. Then I put them all back together. I put them back together with the stars backed right off (nuts fully into anchor block).

The best thing about taking it all apart and cleaning it: I now understand how the mechanism works, which means I now undertand what I'm trying to achieve when I'm adjusting. This makes it so much easier! It also made the stars really easy to turn once the crud was cleaned out.

4. I loosened off the handbrake adjusting nuts at the front all the way before starting to adjust the brake stars.

5. I pumped the brake pedal hard several times to get the shoes etc seated, then adjusted the stars (tighten one at a time until wheel locks, then back off slightly until wheel can be moved again). Then I pumped the brake pedal hard several times again, then checked the star adjustment. I repeated the whole process over and over several times.

6. I adjusted the handbrake nuts until the wheels locked with the handbrake at 6 clicks.

7. I pumped the brake pedal hard several times and pulled the handbrake on and off several times, then checked the star adjustment yet again. I repeated this over and over a few more times.

8. I took the bus for a gentle drive, braking often.

9. I jacked it up again and checked the star adjustment yet again!

My brakes now feel better than they ever have, and for the first time the handbrake is rock solid.

Moral: It takes a bit of repeated use to get the shoes nicely settled, so lots of repeated pumping and readjusting will get the best results. It also really helps to have taken it all apart and put it back together so you understand how it works.

Hope that helps!