Drum brakes?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

blue betty · 01-05-2007, 11:01 PM

I just overhauled my entire braking system, new everything rubber hoses, steel lines, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, spring kits, drums and shoes. My problem is I cant seem to get the shoes to sit properly, they wont close in all the way.At the top their still 2cm away from the main bolt. any ideas why?

dave2953 · 01-05-2007, 11:13 PM

Could you possibly post a pic?

blue betty · 01-05-2007, 11:18 PM

blue betty · 01-05-2007, 11:25 PM

Tried using an existing picture didnt work, wife broke the camera on the weekend

FarmTruk · 01-06-2007, 12:32 AM

Is the star adjuster all the way in? Are the pads upside down or reversed front to back?

blue betty · 01-06-2007, 01:42 AM

the star adjuster is all the way in and the shoes are on properly.

**VetteVet** · 01-06-2007, 02:05 AM

Here is a thread with pics that may help.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=brake+shoes

72armyswbtruck · 01-06-2007, 04:08 AM

Stupid Question but is the emergancy brake on?
Did you do just one side at a time?

blue betty · 01-06-2007, 09:32 AM

Thanks for all the help guys, The emergency brake is off, but now it doesnt work when applied and it did work b4.the star adjuster is all the way in so the drum will move because the brakes our out at the top still

Longhorn Man · 01-06-2007, 12:33 PM

you tried squeezing the shoes in with your hands? There may be fluid in the brake cylinder that needs pushed back in. I find this almost common on a system that's been apart for a while

**kwmech** · 01-06-2007, 12:58 PM

Even though the park brake is off, the cables may be partially stuck/frozen.

Longhorn Man · 01-06-2007, 02:34 PM

that would spread the bottom, not the top

**WorkinLonghorn** · 01-06-2007, 05:14 PM

Assuming you matched up the new shoes with the old ones to make sure you had the right parts (you didn't get them at Auto Zone,did you?),then put on some clean gloves and just squeeze and shake the hell out of them. Sounds light the back edge of the shoe is catching on the ridge in the backing plate.-cougar

cooters · 01-07-2007, 11:34 AM

THE PROBLEM IS THE STAR WHEEL ADJUSTER CANNOT BE IN ALL THE WAY. yOU TURN THE STARWHEEL OUT TILL THE SHOES JUST TOUCH THE DRUM. tHIS IS WHY THE EBRAKE WONT WORK CAUSE THE TRAVEL OF THE CABLE IS NOT ENOUGH. kEEP IN MIND HOW FAST THE BRAKES GRAB WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL IS BASED ONLY FROM ADJUSTING THE REAR STAR WHEEL ADJUSTER IF YOU HAVE DISK FRONT BRAKE. ALSO CHECK YOUR SPRINGS THAT WRAP AROUND THE ANCHOR PIN AS THEY ALSO PULL THE SHOES TO WHEEL CYLINDER

blue betty · 01-13-2007, 09:06 PM

Thanks guys for all the help. It ended up being my Emergency brake, the horizontal bar is what was keeping my brakes apart, it must have been pulled with the drums off. ( i was doing new guages as well). again thanks for all the help and im excited to have it back on the road, blue betty

01-05-2007, 11:01 PM	#1
blue betty Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 43	Drum brakes?? I just overhauled my entire braking system, new everything rubber hoses, steel lines, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, spring kits, drums and shoes. My problem is I cant seem to get the shoes to sit properly, they wont close in all the way.At the top their still 2cm away from the main bolt. any ideas why? Last edited by blue betty; 01-05-2007 at 11:03 PM. Reason: spelling and grammar

01-05-2007, 11:13 PM	#2
dave2953 Dave's not here, man Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Winder, Georgia Posts: 2,000	Re: Drum brakes?? Could you possibly post a pic? __________________ - 2014 VW Jetta - 2015 VW Jetta - 1966 Ford F-250

01-05-2007, 11:18 PM	#3
blue betty Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 43	Re: Drum brakes??

01-05-2007, 11:25 PM	#4
blue betty Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 43	Re: Drum brakes?? Tried using an existing picture didnt work, wife broke the camera on the weekend

01-06-2007, 12:32 AM	#5
FarmTruk In Memoriam... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wallburg, NC Posts: 1,216	Re: Drum brakes?? Is the star adjuster all the way in? Are the pads upside down or reversed front to back? __________________ '68 C10 SWB 307ci 2BBL *FarmTruk Pics Here* *"You know, doing what is right is easy. The problem is knowing what is right."*

01-06-2007, 01:42 AM	#6
blue betty Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 43	Re: Drum brakes?? the star adjuster is all the way in and the shoes are on properly.

01-06-2007, 02:05 AM	#7
VetteVet Msgt USAF Ret Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 8,709	Re: Drum brakes?? Here is a thread with pics that may help. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=brake+shoes __________________ VetteVet metallic green 67 stepside 74 corvette convertible 1965 Harley sportster 1995 Harley wide glide Growing old is hell, but it beats the alternative.

01-06-2007, 04:08 AM	#8
72armyswbtruck Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,034	Re: Drum brakes?? Stupid Question but is the emergancy brake on? Did you do just one side at a time? __________________ "Remember, They can Kill You, but they can't eat You, That's against the law!!!!!!!!!"

01-06-2007, 09:32 AM	#9
blue betty Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 43	Re: Drum brakes?? Thanks for all the help guys, The emergency brake is off, but now it doesnt work when applied and it did work b4.the star adjuster is all the way in so the drum will move because the brakes our out at the top still

01-06-2007, 12:33 PM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Drum brakes?? you tried squeezing the shoes in with your hands? There may be fluid in the brake cylinder that needs pushed back in. I find this almost common on a system that's been apart for a while

01-06-2007, 12:58 PM	#11
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,487	Re: Drum brakes?? Even though the park brake is off, the cables may be partially stuck/frozen.

01-06-2007, 02:34 PM	#12
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Drum brakes?? that would spread the bottom, not the top

01-06-2007, 05:14 PM	#13
WorkinLonghorn Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Studio City, Calif. Posts: 2,861	Re: Drum brakes?? Assuming you matched up the new shoes with the old ones to make sure you had the right parts (you didn't get them at Auto Zone,did you?),then put on some clean gloves and just squeeze and shake the hell out of them. Sounds light the back edge of the shoe is catching on the ridge in the backing plate.-cougar __________________ '69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme. Best $300 I ever spent.

01-07-2007, 11:34 AM	#14
cooters Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 458	Re: Drum brakes?? THE PROBLEM IS THE STAR WHEEL ADJUSTER CANNOT BE IN ALL THE WAY. yOU TURN THE STARWHEEL OUT TILL THE SHOES JUST TOUCH THE DRUM. tHIS IS WHY THE EBRAKE WONT WORK CAUSE THE TRAVEL OF THE CABLE IS NOT ENOUGH. kEEP IN MIND HOW FAST THE BRAKES GRAB WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL IS BASED ONLY FROM ADJUSTING THE REAR STAR WHEEL ADJUSTER IF YOU HAVE DISK FRONT BRAKE. ALSO CHECK YOUR SPRINGS THAT WRAP AROUND THE ANCHOR PIN AS THEY ALSO PULL THE SHOES TO WHEEL CYLINDER

01-13-2007, 09:06 PM	#15
blue betty Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 43	Re: Drum brakes?? Thanks guys for all the help. It ended up being my Emergency brake, the horizontal bar is what was keeping my brakes apart, it must have been pulled with the drums off. ( i was doing new guages as well). again thanks for all the help and im excited to have it back on the road, blue betty



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