68 and earlier self adjusting drums

With the rear 10 inch drum brakes adjuster lever on top of the star wheel, as it's supposed to be on 68s, do the adjusters work while braking forward or backwards? 70s and later drum brakes have the adjuster lever engaging the bottom of the star wheel and I can imagine the process working while braking in reverse. Is this why it was changed because the early cars adjusted going forwards? Thanks in advance all.

According to a service bulletin, the earlier brakes were capable of over tightening, hence the change.

Yes, the adjusters work while you hit the brakes in reverse. The L-shaped lever has a part of the arm that lines up at the bottom part of the star wheel on the adjuster assembly.
The braking motion in reverse causes the arm to push on the star wheel to rotate it , tightening the brakes a little at a time.

Ok so both early and late self adjusters tighten in reverse. Thanks.

If they adjusted going forward you'd have the wheels locked up very quickly.

Agreed the motion of backing up and the lever pushing down didn't feel as logical as backing up and the lever pulling up at the star.

Just for the record, the brakes need to be adjusted pretty close before any of the self adjusters will work very well.

also, the adjusters themselves need to be free, and the backing plates free of wear "divots" on the pads the shoes rest on.