why can't i get my drums back on?

[jakeblues652]

i needed a new wheel cylinder, so the end of last week, i tore it apart and took it to napa, just to figure out they had to order it. i got it, bolted it up, and, i can't for the life of me, get the one shoe back on. the one slid on fine, and the other one is WAY off. i tryed to push the wheel cylinder in more, but its in all the way(at least all 190 pounds of me says its in). what am i doing wrong here? im drawing a blank.

[67sss]

not 100% sure, but I think the shoes are different sizes. Make sure the bigger of the 2 is the one toward the back. Also make sure ur parking brake is off.

[jakeblues652]

oh, forgot to say. front pass side, so parking brake shouldnt play a role.

[72lb4x4]

Adjust the star wheel at the bottom all the way in...

[jakeblues652]

the top was more of the problem, like the wheel cylinder didnt go in far enough, but like i said, i had my whole body weight on it, and it didnt budge.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Any chance you put both primary shoes on one side and are trying to put both secondary shoes on the other side, instead of one each on both sides?

[prostreetC-10]

why can't i get my drums back on?

Listen buddy.....the band broke up and I just don't see them getting back together!!! lol

This is an educated guess.......you need to back the bottom adjuster way back in to get the new shoes on. If that's not it then see below!!!!





Pics of the problem might allow us to solve it in seconds!

[Vintage Windmills]

Make sure the bleeder is open far enough when you compress cyl.

Take some measurements and compare drivers side to pass side. Look at shoe diameter, drum id, cylinder length, etc, and see what is different on bad side. Troubleshoot then go from there.

[vectorit]

Did you replace the shoes as well? From the way I read your post, it sounded as though you just replaced the WC.

So, I am guessing that one or both of the shoes has slipped into the backing plate indentation or groove. If they have, then the shoes are spread apart to far for the drum to go back on. Or, the backing plate has a worn spot that has developed a large burr. If you are pushing on the shoe to compress the WC, then all your effort to do so would explain that they slipped into the outer groove.

Stupid question, did you open the bleeder to allow the WC to compress?

This photo gallery that someone did on the assembly of drum brakes is nice to look at for a stare and compare.

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

[jakeblues652]

yes, i opened the bleeder enough. they are not new shoes, i figured im not putting it on the road until works done and they have alot of life, so im not too worried about them. the only thing that was replaced was the WC. it looks like this picture, but it cannot be moved, because the piece that sticks into the WC that pushes the shoes out is touching.
http://www.pbase.com/nufsed/image/49448877
i have the service manual, and i know it was going together right (besides the fact of the shoe size, but im almost positive thats right too, but i'll check anyway. )

[jakeblues652]

well, today i had a fit, and took it all back apart, and pulled it off, and side by side compared it, and it was just a hair bigger, and i took the spring out, and there was the reason. so i cleaned it up real nice, and back to napa it goes. just not the right one. and the bolt holes were also on the bottom, not the top, so essensially, i had it upside down from what it shouldve been.

now the bad news-i'll need to wait for new ones to come in. this time im ordering both, driver and passenger side, and comparing them on the bench.

[geezer#99]

Just a heads up. If you got any liquid on your shoes then they have no life left in them. Easier to put new ones on now. JMHO.

[Smallz72project]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Just a heads up. If you got any liquid on your shoes then they have no life left in them. Easier to put new ones on now. JMHO.

Thats not an accurate statement. Yes brake fluid on the shoes isnt good but it doesnt automatically make them no longer useful. If there is just a light coat of fluid, the shoes can be cleaned up with brake cleaner and sanded clean. Only when the shoes are saturated does it mark them for replacement. A good test to find out, take a pointed object and drag it down the shoe, if it still scratches the shoe then its saveable, if it just gouges it and makes the friction material clump up, then replacement is required.

[Jacfourteen]

Originally Posted by Smallz72project

Thats not an accurate statement. Yes brake fluid on the shoes isnt good but it doesnt automatically make them no longer useful. If there is just a light coat of fluid, the shoes can be cleaned up with brake cleaner and sanded clean. Only when the shoes are saturated does it mark them for replacement. A good test to find out, take a pointed object and drag it down the shoe, if it still scratches the shoe then its saveable, if it just gouges it and makes the friction material clump up, then replacement is required.

[jakeblues652]

well, luckily the shoes are fine. it just so happened that it was a very very small leak. and also, i went back down to napa, and they told me they ordered the DR side, when i specifically remember telling them the passenger side. stupid people.. welp, tomorrow i'll have them for both sides so i wont need to worry about them.

[Dan in Pasadena]

SO? Que paso? Did you figure out how to fix it?...I mean with other than a BFH?!

[jakeblues652]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

SO? Que paso? Did you figure out how to fix it?...I mean with other than a BFH?!

hahaha, they gave me the wrong part, and it wont be here until tomorrow. so hopefully, these are in fact just for the wrong sides. i wish a BFH would help in this situation, because im pretty fluent in BFH

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by jakeblues652

...i wish a BFH would help in this situation, because im pretty fluent in BFH

Oh Little grasshopper, you must learn. A BFH "helps" in ANY situation. It either fixes the problem at hand or you fell a LOT better after beating the living crap outta something that has aggravated you and disturbed your "wa"

Seriously, good that you found your problem. Those kind of seemigly impossible problems drive me nuts.

[jakeblues652]

so, i got the right one today and everything went back together without the use of a BFH.
but heres the problem..it didnt fix that tire skidding. anyone have any ideas, because the only other thing i can think is redo the other side too, and bleed 'em. then i'll know all my WC's are good. hey, if i get lucky, maybe its just air in the line.
if thats not the case, what else could it be besides the proportioning valve?