BakedPotato65

Today I thought was going to be an easy drum brake rebuild. I bought new drums, shoes, wheel cylinders, and all new springs and hardware. I have never rebuilt drum brakes before but I know how to do it after today. I spent 7.5 hours rebuilding the passenger side drum brake. Taking it apart was pretty easy and so was putting the new back together until the new drum wouldn't fit over the new shoes. About 6.5 hours of the 7.5 hours I spent on it was trying to figure out why the drum wouldn't fit and how to make it fit. The adjuster was spun all the way in, the parking brake cable was rusted and stuck on a little but I got it unstuck for now until I get a new cable later, all the shoes and drums were the correct size and replacements, and I know I put everything back together correctly after taking the passenger side apart and back together more than 10 times. I ended up filing the grooves where the shoe adjuster sat because the adjuster was pushing the shoes out too far for the drum to go over even with it adjusted all the way in. I also removed the parking brake plate with the spring on one end because it was also pushing the shoes out too far. After filing on the shoes and removing the parking brake plate the drum went on but is pretty snug but I can turn it still. The wheel cylinder did not have any pressure on it and the brake line wasn't attached so it wasn't pushing on the shoes. I've seen online that leading shoe is thicker and it is on the front side of the drum but these trucks are the opposite. I have no idea why it's not fitting correctly when I know I've done everything right, I've referred to pictures of the old shoes and hardware and also looked at the drivers side untouched brake drum and everything looks as it should. Has anyone had this problem? Anyone know what could be the problem? Here's pictures of the old shoes and the new shoes and hardware.

Thanks a lot, I need to get the truck drivable within a few days

akdoggie

If your pictures are correct to the angles, then the bottom of the assembly is too wide or too far down. It doesn't follow the ring of the backing plate at the bottom. In the first picture it seems like the cylinder pins are further in, and in the next two, a bit farther out.

Have you, since you have the assy together, tried to pop the shoes on the bottom end, and get them to set. Sometimes they can be off just a hair, and won't go on period. I don't see anything (from what can be seen) wrong with your mounting or parts.

For the bottom to hold out, it could be the e=brake arm under the shoe, the cylinder holding the pins out, or just misalignment of the shoes to the plate. It has to be 100% centered or you won't put the drum on.

white89gt

If you haven't already, I would also advise that you put some brake grease between the backing plate and the shoe in every place they make contact. Permatex makes some really good stuff that is ceramic, and made to withstand 3000 degrees Fahrenheit. Great stuff!

https://www.permatex.com/products/lu...s-lubricant-2/

BakedPotato65

Problem solved, kind of. The drums and shoes I bought at O'Reillys were the problem, I took them back and got shoes and drums at Autozone and they fit perfectly. My only problem now is that the rear brakes make squealing noises that increase in pitch the faster I drive and when I brake the noise gets louder and the truck shakes a little. I'm thinking they just need to be driven on then the noise will go away. Also the brake pedal is very weak and soft when the truck is running but feels very firm when the power brakes aren't helping when the truck is off l, even after 2 bleeds it's like this so maybe the shoe adjuster isn't tight enough? These drum brakes are making me real confused.