Adjust your 9" brakes!

I have 9" brakes on my '49. They work well for what I do with it.

eccentrics ? I read this and still don't know how you adjust them. When I put the brakes on the pull bad to the left ( Good pedal tho ) if I pump them it's not quite as bad.

Ive been trying to find a tool to make the job easier. Since I didn't have access to the wrench I left the eccentrics a little loose just enough to turn with a wrench and put it all together with the wheelbearings tight and such. Then I spun the drum and turned the eccentric until I heard it barely dragging and backed it off just a hair. Once I got all the eccentrics adjusted I pulled everything apart and removed the backing plate and tightened down all the nuts. It takes alot of time but I managed to get them to work pretty well. If I slam on the pedal hard enough I can lock all of them but one up.

I read a lot about it today from using the search engine and it seems like there was a good number of guys who would adjust them not using the slots  in the drums.  On of my drums doesn't have the slot so I figured I might as well do them all by sounds and "feel".  Basically,  I did one shoe at a time and one drum at a time. I loosened the retaining nuts on the upper and lower eccentrics on one shoe.  I spun the tire and turned the lower eccentric until the brake was barely dragging then I backed off the eccentric just enough for the brake not to drag.  I then did the upper eccentric the same way.  Then, I checked the lower one more time then tightened both retaining nuts down making sure not to let the eccentric turn while tightening the nuts.  This was my first time to do it and it took me about 30 minutes to do all four wheels.  I was able to make regular open end wrenches work.  Although, I can see if you have older parts that you might need a wrench or tool shaped for this job.  I replaced all of my adjusters when I rebuilt the brakes so they turn easily and the nuts loosen and tighten fairly easily. The 2 furthest forward lower eccentrics were the hardest to get the 3/4" wrench on but I was able to make it work.  I still may look at a few pawn shops for a 3/4" wrench with some offset and it would make it easier.  Sorry for the long write-up for such a seemingly simple process. 

I am relatively new to the 2a world. Since my frame off restore and rebuilding the whole brake system I've been driving my 2a around with mushy brakes that I had to pump a few times to get them to work very good.  I've read some not so encouraging things about the stock 9" brakes so I just assumed it was how they are supposed to be.  Tonight, I finally took the time to adjust the brakes properly and WOW, what a difference.  I thought I had adjusted them good enough when I put them back together.  Obviously not. It is seriously 90% better than they were.  I know all of you guys who have been driving 2a's for a while know what they are supposed to feel like but maybe some new guys who haven't driven one much don't really know.  With the brakes adjusted properly they are very responsive and I am very happy with them.  Just thought I would post a positive 9" brake thread and hopefully help a new guy out.