I'm replacing the drum brakes on a 94 F150 2 wheel drive w/a 302 V8. Followed all the procedures as outlined in a Haynes repair manual and all was well until I went to put the new drum on. Won't fit over the pads. I suspect the issue may be the parking brake is pushing the pads out too far, although the parking brake is fully released. Has anyone else encountered this issue? If so, how did you resolve it? Thanks!

 

Welcome to the site!

Did you spin the star adjuster back in? This is the bar between the bottom of the shoes that will ratchet out as the linings wear.

 

Hi

Thanks for the suggestion. I did back the star wheel adjustment back all the way. Didn't make much difference. Strange thing is I tried one of the new drums on the set of brakes I didn't replace yet and it doesn't fit over the old pads either. Checked the old drums vs the new drums and they look okay.

 

With the star wheel retracted all the way the drum should fit easily over the shoes. Perhaps the star wheel needed to be retracted on the other side also. Bottom line wrong drums or wrong shoes.

 

Thanks for your insights. That was my next issue to check. I'm going to call the place I bought the parts from and ask if they can double check the parts they gave me vs. what is in the parts catalog(s).

 

turns out the brake shoes were the wrong parts. Installed the correct parts and now seem to have a different issue. After installing the new parts I tried to center the whole assembly on the hub. When I do that the left brake shoe seems to pop out of alignment with the rest of the wheel. Any thoughts as to what may be causing this? Thanks!

 

Welcome to the site! Maybe some pictures for us might help.

 

I'm hangin for you buddy. Stand back and regroop, Wrong part the first time, don't mean you can't do this job. Try again, most likely, doing it again, in shutch a short time frame, a mistake has been made. You can do this, if the correct parts were used the first time, you would be done. Take your time and assemble it again.

 

Thanks for your words of encouragement. Due to lack of time and multiple commitments had the vehicle towed to a garage and they finished up the job. Cost a little bit more than I had hoped to spend but at least I know it's done right and is safe to drive. Thanks again for your support.