To adjust the brakes at each wheel on the 53 1/2 put the brake spoon it the slot & pull up on it from the outside. That pushes the inside part down & turns the star wheel in the correct direction to reduce the clearance between the shoe & drum on the Bendix style brakes on that modal. Turn it till you get a heavy drag & back it off about 5 clicks. If there is still some slight drag that is OK. Those shoes float in there & often have some drag & is not always the same on each wheel. They center themselves when the brakes are applied.
When these brakes are right you will have very little movement in the pedal. You just apply pressure to it.
George
