Rear Brake Job DIY?

[Mike Quillici]

Can someone point me to a DIY thread on how to replace brake shoes and drums on a 1972 C-10? I've never messed with drum brakes before. Thanks.

[Rack Man]

Here...doesn't get much better than this....

http://www.pbase.com/nufsed/drumbrake





RM

[hugger6933]

The easiset thing to do is take off both the rear tires, both drums. Then take off the shoes of one side only. If you get into trouble look at the other side to help determine where your parts go. Keep in mind that the primary and secondary shoes are different in lenght[ on the brake pad surface]. The tools you will need as far as special tools are the brake spring pliers, and brake keeper tool. The last resort would be to get a diagram to have a breakdown. Jim

[Big-Blue]

A couple of days ago I used the same website that Rackman referenced and it was a HUGE help. My old drums were so full of 40 year old mud that I had to drive them off with a 16 pound sledge...needless to say, I didn't have much to go by in terms of existing locations of springs!

By the way, the strut springs do not come in any of the hardware kits so you need to get them at a parts store. Napa was the only one I could find that knew what they were. I can find the part number if you need it.

Good luck.

[echo72]

Originally Posted by Big-Blue

A couple of days ago I used the same website that Rackman referenced and it was a HUGE help. My old drums were so full of 40 year old mud that I had to drive them off with a 16 pound sledge...needless to say, I didn't have much to go by in terms of existing locations of springs!

By the way, the strut springs do not come in any of the hardware kits so you need to get them at a parts store. Napa was the only one I could find that knew what they were. I can find the part number if you need it.

Good luck.

I'm doing my rear breaks soon; I would like to have the part number for the strut springs. Thanks

[Joe67]

Originally Posted by hugger6933

The easiset thing to do is take off both the rear tires, both drums. Then take off the shoes of one side only. If you get into trouble look at the other side to help determine where your parts go. Keep in mind that the primary and secondary shoes are different in lenght[ on the brake pad surface]. The tools you will need as far as special tools are the brake spring pliers, and brake keeper tool. The last resort would be to get a diagram to have a breakdown. Jim

Best advice for a drum brake job right there. Also, make sure you have the proper tools for the springs etc. makes things MUCH easier

[Mike Quillici]

Thanks for the pictorial. Is the drum just sitting over the brake assembly? Do I just pull it off, or do I have to unhook it somehow?

[Big-Blue]

If you look at the http://www.pbase.com/nufsed/drumbrake, in the first picture you will see a red star wheel at the bottom middle. That is an adjustment wheel that will pull the shoes in or push them out. You will want to bring the shoes in and then the drum should just pull off. You do this by inserting a screwdriver in the slot in the back and rotating the star wheel.

It will take a little bit of effort to then pull the drum off due to weight and rust but you will be able to tell if the shoes are hanging up the drum.

[Big-Blue]

The "Parking Brake Strut Spring" is Napa 80744. Two come in a box and that is all you need. Costs about $3 as I recall.

[Big-Blue]

I cleaned up my old struts and parking brake levers and shot some Rust Oleum on them. They were pretty pitted but should work fine. I don't think anyone is making them aftermarket wise.

[dfwright]

I'd like to have that napa part number for the strut spring. I am getting ready to do mine shortly. I've looked through my rebuild kits, and you're right, no strut, and no strut spring.

[dfwright]

Thanks!