Brake wizards needed - I'm about to go nuts!

[steves1967]

bent axle or bad axle bearing

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by Dashman

Sorry no wizard here, but I'm sure you'll get one.

Did you inspect the backing plate areas where the shoes make contact? ...and did you add grease? What about adding grease to the anchor pin? ...was there any wear on the anchor pin?

Did you compare both sides to each other? ...like the backing plate wear, and the axle play?

Could you feel excessive play in the axle? What about the oil level in the differential? Could that have caused your bearings to go dry? After 52 years, maybe it's time for new axles or new bearing surface welded on and machined.

Good luck!

First, I'd pull the shoes off that side and look at the pads were the shoes ride on the backing plates. Check the pads were the shoes ride for wear patterns that are in them. Take a flap wheel or grinding wheel or disk and smooth those off and put just a smear of grease on each one with your finger.

It's a pain in the tail feathers but on things like this it is better to make one change at a time rather than try doing more than one.

[joeydurango]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

First, I'd pull the shoes off that side and look at the pads were the shoes ride on the backing plates. Check the pads were the shoes ride for wear patterns that are in them. Take a flap wheel or grinding wheel or disk and smooth those off and put just a smear of grease on each one with your finger.

It's a pain in the tail feathers but on things like this it is better to make one change at a time rather than try doing more than one.

New shoes already installed. Backing plates cleaned and greased during install.

New bearings and seals are in. Don't think that was needed, everything looked really good, I'm convinced this axle was rebuilt not too long before I bought the truck in 2015. It looks even better now!

Had new drums on hand but Summit listed the wrong part for the truck. So I'm waiting for the local parts house to get drums for me tomorrow. Then we'll see what the verdict is...

[mongo4298]

Two trouble shooting tips. You didn't mention what your drum oversize dimensions are. I would have the rear shoes re-arced to .040. Lastly I would test drive the vehicle and safely use only the emergency brake to bring it to a complete stop. Good luck, Mongo4298

[joeydurango]

Following up for future question-askers. After several drives the noise is *mostly* gone. Still can get it at the very end of a stop, but it no longer squeeeeaaaals all the way to every stop sign. Since the old bearings appeared to be just fine I think new drums were the mostly-fix. Just for kicks I removed the front calipers and inspected them too - everything is completely normal there. Don't really know what the remaining noise is - and it is the same exact noise - but it's so much reduced at this point that I don't care. I've got too many other things to worry about!

[Steeveedee]

With this latest post, I'd say that the problem is squeal from your brake pads. This can be a pain to minimize. I'd recommend a quality brake pad silencer and following the directions on the bottle to a "T". I still have a little squeal on my front brakes (disc brake conversion) but I just step on the pedal a little harder.

[joeydurango]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

With this latest post, I'd say that the problem is squeal from your brake pads. This can be a pain to minimize. I'd recommend a quality brake pad silencer and following the directions on the bottle to a "T". I still have a little squeal on my front brakes (disc brake conversion) but I just step on the pedal a little harder.

Well - old brake shoes squealed. I replaced them. The new ones also squealed. That's what led to all this in the first place... but I'm happy with it for now.