D5 steering brake problem

[Hambone33]

I have a 1974 Cat D5 that has developed a problem with the right steering brake. I have the original manuals and have tried adjusting exactly as described in the manual but even though I have tried it multiple times it does not help. The D5 has access panels behind the seat and on the rear of the case. I can see the brake adjustment nut and the threads. The left brake which works fine has about an inch of adjustment thread left. The right one which is not working is tightened almost all the way down with no threads showing. I can get the right brake to work for a short time by tightening the adjustment nut but it doesn't work for long. The brake material on the band is about 3/8 of an inch thick on both the left and right brake shoes so they are not worn out. A friend who works in the industry said sometimes the pin that goes through the eyes on the end of the break shoes will break and then you cannot adjust the breaks no matter what you do. Sounds like it might be my problem. Can the brakes be repaired via the access panels or will the right side tracks and the housings have to be taken off to work on this? I am not a mechanic so I could use some advice. Looks like an expensive repair if the right side has to be disassembled.

 

[Dave Neubert]

You have to pull the fuel tank and seat and you can access the brakes and steering clutches from the top. My other question is what are you adjusting the linkage or he adjuster the adjuster comes straight up from the top of the housing and you can't see any threads it is just a hex head I think its 9/16

 

[Dave Neubert]

I tried to post a SIS of the adjuster maybe someone else can do it

 

[Old Magnet]

If the brake band anchor pin was broken you wouldn't be able to tighten the band at all.
Could be the adjuster threads are stripped. How bad is the rust in there?
Can you tell if any of the brake lining is missing? They are about 1/4" thick when new.

 

[Hambone33]

I've removed the seat and opened the inspection panel on top. That is where I adjusted the brakes with the hex nut. On my machine the adjustment nut is 1-1/8. I've not messed with the linkage other than to inspect what I can see from the brake pedal back to the housing and everything is fine. there is an inspection plate on the back of the housing that lets me see the bottom end of the brake adjustment assembly. I can't see the threads on the brake adjustment because the nut is all the way down and no threads are showing. On the other side I can see about an inch of threads below the nut. No rust that I can see.

The right break pedal is way forward of the left pedal and actually bottoms out on the "firewall" (don't know the proper name) I've adjusted the left brake and it bottoms out 7 inches away from the firewall as the manual directs. There has to be something loose inside the right brake housing because no matter how you mess with the brake adjustment you cannot get the right break pedal adjusted to where it should be. The brake material on the shoes looks fine but I can only see a small part of it so it could have fallen off where I can't see it or be worn completely out but it is the same thickness as the left side from what I can see - about 3/8" thick.

My D5 has dry brakes so I'm hoping it can be worked on without disassembling the right track and getting into the housing. My dozer also has ROPS that would have to be removed to get the seat frame off. You cannot get to the top access without taking the seat and the frame in which it sits off the machine. I can get in there to tighten the brake adjustment nut but you have to almost be a contortionist to reach it.
Also, the access panel on top does not look like what is shown in my service manual. The one in the manual pictures has an access panel that is a long rectangular opening and it shows how to remove the brake shoes through that opening. The opening on my machine is not that big and I am not sure whats going on there. I carefully checked the serial no. on my machine and made sure the manual I bought should cover my machine but I may have gotten taken on that as I bought it off ebay.

Thanks for the info. Would appreciate any more ideas. Looks like I might have to shell out the big bucks to get a mechanic to do it. I might have found the right folks though. Our local CAT dealership closed in the last 6 months and some of the mechanics started their own shop so I'm gonna go talk to those folks tomorrow.

 

[Old Magnet]

There are two covers each side. A small one to access adjustment and a large one to access the steering clutches and brakes. Brake bands can be removed through the large access cover.