Albus Posted June 18, 2023 Share Posted June 18, 2023 I'm replacing my rear brakes and have them put back on but they don't seem to be centering on the axle/backing plate. I can barely even get the drum back on. You can see from the pictures that they are pulling towards the front. I can manually force them back but the springs just pull them out of center again. I can't see any problems with the way I put it all back together and wondering if anyone has any experience with this. I ordered all my parts based on this very helpful post: Thanks in advance for any help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred heath Posted June 18, 2023 Share Posted June 18, 2023 Try it with the shoes reversed. It looks like you might have the leading shoe being used as the trailing shoe and visa versa. it’s hard to tell from the picture, but leading shoes usually have less brake lining applied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott iv Posted June 18, 2023 Share Posted June 18, 2023 Did you change the position of your brake shoe self adjuster? When I did mine I screwed the adjuster in all the way so I could get the drum on easily and freely. After it was all back together I put the vehicle in reverse and hard braked a few times to adjust the shoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albus Posted June 18, 2023 Author Share Posted June 18, 2023 thanks for the reply Fred but I can confirm I have them correct. It's actually hard to mess up because the rear shoe comes with a post for the E brake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extech Posted June 18, 2023 Share Posted June 18, 2023 i've never seen the small spring from rear shoe to backing plate. looks to be pulling shoes forward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albus Posted June 18, 2023 Author Share Posted June 18, 2023 2 minutes ago, Scott iv said: Did you change the position of your brake shoe self adjuster? When I did mine I screwed the adjuster in all the way so I could get the drum on easily and freely. After it was all back together I put the vehicle in reverse and hard braked a few times to adjust the shoes. Yes I had to dial it all the way in to get the drum on. expanding it did seem to center it a little but no way I could get the drum on. With it all the way in I can fit the drum on but the front shoe is tight against the drum as it's so out of position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albus Posted June 18, 2023 Author Share Posted June 18, 2023 4 minutes ago, extech said: i've never seen the small spring from rear shoe to backing plate. looks to be pulling shoes forward I agree it seems to be asymmetrical and would tend to pull it out of center but was definitely there when I opened it up and came with the kit... Also shown in the shop manual below Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extech Posted June 18, 2023 Share Posted June 18, 2023 did you compare new shoes to old ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extech Posted June 18, 2023 Share Posted June 18, 2023 also appears the rear upper spring isn't on the post all the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott iv Posted June 18, 2023 Share Posted June 18, 2023 The springs and shoes all appear correct. Is the wheel cylinder fully compressed on both sides? is the self adjuster properly seated in the shoes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albus Posted June 18, 2023 Author Share Posted June 18, 2023 12 minutes ago, extech said: did you compare new shoes to old ones they appear to be pretty much identical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albus Posted June 18, 2023 Author Share Posted June 18, 2023 10 minutes ago, extech said: also appears the rear upper spring isn't on the post all the way That's as far as I can get it on. The new springs are a little different, somewhat thicker gauge. I'll try putting the old springs back on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albus Posted June 18, 2023 Author Share Posted June 18, 2023 40 minutes ago, Scott iv said: The springs and shoes all appear correct. Is the wheel cylinder fully compressed on both sides? is the self adjuster properly seated in the shoes? it seems less compressed on the front - I can push it in a bit more than the back. The adjuster looks to be fully seated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extech Posted June 18, 2023 Share Posted June 18, 2023 the shoes look to be against the anchor at the top = wheel cyl is compressed. the bottom of the shoes being forward is the problem yes? can you try the old spring going from shoe to backing plate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albus Posted June 18, 2023 Author Share Posted June 18, 2023 the new and old appear to be identical. When I take that spring off I can push the whole assembly to the center and it will stay. With the spring attached (old or new) I can push it to center but then it pulls back to the front. Bizarre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albus Posted June 25, 2023 Author Share Posted June 25, 2023 In case anyone ever has the same issue: I put together the other side with the same results and finally figured out that an overly tight parking brake cable is the culprit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extech Posted June 25, 2023 Share Posted June 25, 2023 thanks for putting this to rest. i will remember when i have mine apart again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoDoug Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Also, with drum brakes here is a super helpful tip as they're oddly able to go together a few ways. Take several photos before you disassemble. And NEVER take both sides apart together. One at a time gives you the chance to use the other side as a reference in a pinch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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