drum brake install - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Joe T · 05-09-2008, 10:56 PM

i am trying to install new rear pads (drum brakes) and i figure out what i am doing wrong. i am using wearever pads, which look identical to the old ones. my problem is that i cant fit the drum on after i install the pads, its looks like the adjuster is making them spread too far apart (and it is all the way in). has anyone else had this problem? i did also replace the wheel cylinder.

PanelDeland · 05-09-2008, 11:21 PM

The wheel cylinder also needs to be "calapsed" or at it's narrowest.It should be since it has no fluid in it and the springs retract it.
Check to be sure all the slots in the hardware are aligned with their proper spots on the shoes and adjuster.The only other thing I can think of to check is the adjuster.The slotted caps must be seated all the way down,I "think" you can swap ends with them and have the adjuster be longer than it should be.Just a few guesses to help get your brain working.

BTW pads wont work,shoes go on drum brakes.

jhow66 · 05-10-2008, 02:00 AM

You have to reset your brake adjusters to thier shortest lenght. install drums and then adjust them back out until they touch drum.

LONGHAIR · 05-10-2008, 02:18 AM

Also be sure that the E-brake cable is fully relaxed and that the spreader bar is seated properly.

**El Jay** · 05-10-2008, 02:48 AM

Make sure you have actually installed a leading and trailing shoe on that side.
They are different lengths.

68gmsee · 05-10-2008, 03:09 AM

I took a pic of my front brake setup when I did some work on my truck. Other than the emergency brake setup I thing they're the same. Not sure if it will help but here it is..

Joe T · 05-11-2008, 04:41 AM

thanks for the help. ill take a pic this weekend and see what you guys think.

Joe T · 05-11-2008, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

I took a pic of my front brake setup when I did some work on my truck. Other than the emergency brake setup I thing they're the same. Not sure if it will help but here it is..

now, looking at this pic more closely, i put the adjuster too low. i had it on the lowest part of the shoe. i was going out of my mind what i did wrong. hopefully this is the problem.

Basicfish · 05-11-2008, 03:52 PM

just something that bit me on the brake job on my 69. The Ebrake cables were stuck after 40 years. So $50 or so later I had new ones and brakes. Another issue was I went through 2 master cylinders from the auto parts before I got a good one.

**michael bustamante** · 05-11-2008, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe T

now, looking at this pic more closely, i put the adjuster too low. i had it on the lowest part of the shoe. i was going out of my mind what i did wrong. hopefully this is the problem.

i did that too when I was doing my front drums, drove me NUTS for about a week, then when I finally calmed down, I noticed I put that dang adjuster on the wrong notches in the shoes.

05-09-2008, 10:56 PM	#1
Joe T Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pa Posts: 50	drum brake install i am trying to install new rear pads (drum brakes) and i figure out what i am doing wrong. i am using wearever pads, which look identical to the old ones. my problem is that i cant fit the drum on after i install the pads, its looks like the adjuster is making them spread too far apart (and it is all the way in). has anyone else had this problem? i did also replace the wheel cylinder.

05-09-2008, 11:21 PM	#2
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Re: drum brake install The wheel cylinder also needs to be "calapsed" or at it's narrowest.It should be since it has no fluid in it and the springs retract it. Check to be sure all the slots in the hardware are aligned with their proper spots on the shoes and adjuster.The only other thing I can think of to check is the adjuster.The slotted caps must be seated all the way down,I "think" you can swap ends with them and have the adjuster be longer than it should be.Just a few guesses to help get your brain working. BTW pads wont work,shoes go on drum brakes. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil" Last edited by PanelDeland; 05-09-2008 at 11:22 PM.

05-10-2008, 02:00 AM	#3
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Re: drum brake install You have to reset your brake adjusters to thier shortest lenght. install drums and then adjust them back out until they touch drum. __________________ 56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer

05-10-2008, 02:18 AM	#4
LONGHAIR just can't cover up my redneck Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 11,414	Re: drum brake install Also be sure that the E-brake cable is fully relaxed and that the spreader bar is seated properly.

05-10-2008, 02:48 AM	#5
El Jay Gone to greener pastures Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gateway to the Delta Posts: 7,354	Re: drum brake install Make sure you have actually installed a leading and trailing shoe on that side. They are different lengths. __________________ '69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck

05-10-2008, 03:09 AM	#6
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: drum brake install I took a pic of my front brake setup when I did some work on my truck. Other than the emergency brake setup I thing they're the same. Not sure if it will help but here it is.. Attached Images

05-11-2008, 04:41 AM	#7
Joe T Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pa Posts: 50	Re: drum brake install thanks for the help. ill take a pic this weekend and see what you guys think.

05-11-2008, 03:52 PM	#9
Basicfish Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: houston,tx Posts: 15	Re: drum brake install just something that bit me on the brake job on my 69. The Ebrake cables were stuck after 40 years. So $50 or so later I had new ones and brakes. Another issue was I went through 2 master cylinders from the auto parts before I got a good one.

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