55.2-59 1958 Apache 38 brakes dragging all around.

[mr48chev]

The guys gave some good advice but here are a few things.

1. reach in with your hand and push the pedal down and make sure that you have a slight noticeable free play before you start pushing on the piston in the master cylinder.

2. a return spring on the pedal is a must have with no excuses item.

3. I was taught 62 years ago to tighten up drum brakes until you couldn't turn the wheel by hand and back them off ELEVEN clicks. I've done hundreds if not thousands of brake jobs that way and taught a lot of students to do it that way. It works well, end of story.

I won't second guess old parts that might stick and worn backing plates that the shoes might hang up on the little rub pads that they slide on. Some times old worn shoes slide over those ridges and you put new shoes on and the sharp edges hang up.