Just replaced my rear drum brakes on my 2004 FX4, replaced shoes(Raybestos), springs, adjusters and drums. Did not replace the wheel cylinders or the e brake hardware. After adjusting the brakes, I took it out for a ride and I hear a constant rubbing noise and a louder rubbing noise when I turn the wheel to the left from the left brake. I took the drums off and could see the the shoes were rubbing uneven. Are my wheel cylinders bad? Any suggestions? Thanks.....

 

Before you installed the new drums and shoes did you match them up with the old ones to make sure they were the same diameter and width? If the new shoes are wider than the old ones they will rub the side of the drum on the inside. This could also happen if the new drum is not as wide as the old one. Also did you adjust the shoes out with the star wheel to make them fit close to the drum before you road tested it? The brakes can make noise if they don't fit up close to the drum when they work. They shouldn't drag but should fit up close. Once you get them fitting close, you can drive it backward and apply the brakes a few times so the slack adjuster will work to take up the remaining slack (or space) between the shoe and drum. You don't always have to replace the wheel cylinder when replacing the rear brakes, unless it's not working. To make sure it's working, make sure the shoes fit close to the drum first like mentioned above. Then you can apply the brakes in loose gravel and see if it locks up the wheel. Or jack up the axle on one side and spin the tire and push on the brake and it should stop right away. If you get braking action and the wheel cylinder isn't leaking then you shouldn't need to replace it. The biggest thing is to not have much of any space between the shoe and drum for them to work the best. That's the reason for the slack adjuster. Look it all over good and see if you need to make some adjustments or if the new parts are correct. You may find some things that might need attention to make it better. Let us know what you find.

 

Thanks for the reply, the new shoes appear to be the exact same size as with the new drums. I did adjust the star wheel as you suggested and thats when I heard a rubbing noise while driving. I look at the pads after driving them 10 miles and they had marks going across them every inch or two, like they were grabbing. Could the new drums be out of round? For now I backed off the star wheel so the constant rubbing noise is gone. I will take the drums off and take them to the parts store and see if they can turn them to see if they are true. But when I turn left, I hear the brake shoe rub ( I think on the right side) pretty loud even with the brakes adjusted all the way back in. Could this be the e brake catching? Thanks...

 

Your wheels (lug-centric) aren't torqued right, or you have a wheel bearing issue.

 

If you did not turn the ID of the drums when you installed the new shoes, it could just be the rub which should normalize once the shoes break in.

 

I went to a napa store and had the new drums turned, one was way off, the other wasn't too bad. I reinstalled the drums and adjusted the star wheel. Went on a test drive and as long as I do not turn the wheel, no rubbing, but now if I turn the wheel left I hear brake rubbing from the right rear brake area and if I turn right I hear brake rubbing from the left rear brake. I checked the drums when I got home and they were pretty hot. At least there is no rubbing when going strait, but I'm very confused when I turn the wheel and hear my brakes rub. I just barely have to turn the wheel to hear the brakes rubbing. Thanks for all your suggestions, but I'm still Confused!!!!!

 

I had an issue with my 03 with the left rear brake hanging up due to the emergency brake not fully releasing. Turned out the housing was rusted and binding up the cable inside. Replaced cable and no problem since. Did you try jacking up back end ,putting wheel chocks under front wheels ,put truck in neutral (engine off) and see if both rear wheels turn freely?

 

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Let us know what the problem and solution were when you find out, a good close to a thread is far more useful then no further reply. This adds to the knowledge base far better then a blank.
tia

 

E brake seems ok, I also put some brake lub on the cable ends. When I pull the E brake it locks the back wheels and when I release it, they turn freely. Jacked up the back turned on the truck and put it in drive and the brakes do not rub. But when I took it for a drive and turn the steering wheel either direction they rub and the drums get hot. Could the outer edge of the shoes rub on the inside of the drum when I turn the wheel? Could the new drum be not as deep or the shoes slightly wider? I don't have the old parts to do a persise measurement, trash man came last night, but they looked the same. Thanks again for you suggestions....

 

Did you orient the shoes correctly when you put them back on - long one to the correct side? The stampings that the friction material attaches to are identical most of the time (holes in the same places), so it's easy to accidentally put the shoes on 'backwards.'

 

Yes, I put the shoe with the longer pad in the back of each side.

Thanks

 

Stupid question but are the little pins that come thru the backplate to hold the shoes good and tight? If so then I`m with FE on the wheel bearings.

 

Found the problem, Changed the wheel cylinders and the noise went away. Thanks for all your help......