yep, knew that (except for what is "WDD"?)
...and does that confirm 3.5" brakes??

 

WDD is the Ford designation for this particular Sterling rear axle.

After 1986, F350 DRW rear brakes are 12 1/8" x 3 1/2."

 

So I got the 3.5" shoes and installed them. The issue I'm having is with the lower retract spring. Sure seems like I need to use the outermost holes, as you can see the backing plate ridge where the shoes ride behind the inner holes. The problem is the spring is really stretched in this position and it is trying to pull the shoe away from the backing plate, so the adjuster lever doesn't engage the adjusting screw. See photo.

 

 

Need to use the lower holes
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/user/diesel_brad/media/97%20CCSB%20F250/DSC00803.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n29/diesel_brad/97%20CCSB%20F250/DSC00803.jpg" border="0" alt="97 F250 CCSB photo DSC00803.jpg"/></a>

 

i ended up splitting the difference... used the inner/lower hole for the coiled end of the spring since that end is bent away from the center, and used the outer/upper hole for the hooked end of the spring.

maybe it's because the shoes are new and therefore need to be adjusted all the way in, but as they sit now the backing plate ridge (where the contact point is for the shoe) is behind those lower holes, so there's no space for the end of the spring (the shoe wouldn't sit flush against the plate if the spring was there).

this truck won't be mobile for quite some time, so no way to tell yet, but at least it all went together this way. maybe after some wear and adjustment out i can move both ends to lower holes. who knows, after i plumb new brake lines (and MC) i may have to tear these apart again anyway to replace the wheel cylinders.

a little at a time!