Drum brake issues
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 119
Likes: 3
Drum brake issues
Changed the shoes and drums on the rear of my 78 F150. The shoes on the drivers side didnt want to sit straight in the middle. When I would push them over to center, one shoe would **** out at the top. This made it very difficult to get the drum on. I hammered it a little and squeezed it on with the wheel when I tightened the lugs. I was hoping that it would adjust itself when I bled the brakes. No dice. Up in the air, the wheel would barely turn by hand.
Now what? Im thinking I will have to take it back apart but Im sure that drum doesn't want to come back off. Looked around town for a puller but no one has one to fit a big *** brake drum.
What would cause this and how would I even fix it?
Now what? Im thinking I will have to take it back apart but Im sure that drum doesn't want to come back off. Looked around town for a puller but no one has one to fit a big *** brake drum.
What would cause this and how would I even fix it?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 78
From: NE Texas
Usually when I have run into this it is because I failed to totally bottom out the adjusting star. From what you describe, gonna be a bugger to get off. Push, pull, pry, cuss... make sure you spray the center hole of the drum liberally with lube to be sure it isn't hanging up there, too.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,892
Likes: 2,370
If it's hanging up like you say a puller isn't going to work, the shoe will just hang on tighter the more you pull it.
Unless you really goofed something up it has to be that the adjuster isn't in all the way. try to loosen it off through the hole in the backing plate.
Unless you really goofed something up it has to be that the adjuster isn't in all the way. try to loosen it off through the hole in the backing plate.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Not sure at all, but I’m thinking about what you might be able to access from the back to be able to get the drum off. Would it work to loosen the cylinder from the back, along with the bolt above it that holds the parking brake hinge hardware in place? Or cut off the back of the retaining springs to let the shoes fall down? You’d sacrifice your springs but may create some “play” internally to let you get the drum off?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 119
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Just double checked the adjuster. Looked through the hole and could easily see that it is all the way in.
Even with the retaining springs in, the shoes could move about an inch side to side
Does backing up adjust the brakes at all? Thought I heard that somewhere.
Havnt driven it yet. Would driving it make it fall into place or am I risking tearing something up?
Even with the retaining springs in, the shoes could move about an inch side to side
Does backing up adjust the brakes at all? Thought I heard that somewhere.
Havnt driven it yet. Would driving it make it fall into place or am I risking tearing something up?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,892
Likes: 2,370
I would try to slack it off anyway if you haven't. even a turn might do it.
If it's dragging much at all it's going to get warm fast. I don't see how driving it would help anything fall in place. buy at this point you don't have much to lose if it won't come apart. just don't get it so hot you cook something besides the shoes which are cheap.
Backing up will adjust them if everything is working correctly, but it only will tighten them which is not what you need.
If it's dragging much at all it's going to get warm fast. I don't see how driving it would help anything fall in place. buy at this point you don't have much to lose if it won't come apart. just don't get it so hot you cook something besides the shoes which are cheap.
Backing up will adjust them if everything is working correctly, but it only will tighten them which is not what you need.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,313
Likes: 367
From: Kansas
if your adjuster is all the way in and your parking brake is not partially set, you should be able to move the drum back and forth while you pull outward on the drum, it will eventually come off.
New User
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
What you are describing sounds similar to what I experienced when I recently replaced the shoes and drums on my 79 F150. Are you sure that the parking brake is released and that there is no tension on the parking brake cable? Even though I thought it was released, the cables were sticking on mine and not allowing the shoes to sit centered when i was reassembling them. I discovered this before I put my drums on and replaced my parking brake cables but you might try to set and release your parking brake several times to see if that works. Good luck.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 60
From: S.E. Louisiana;so far USA
Assuming that you have the correct parts, and assuming that the self adjuster and the parking brake cable are backed all the way off, something is not assembled correctly. I always make photos before disassembly. Surely when the truck was new the brakes didn't drag as you describe. Ford would have had difficulty selling such a truck. Retrace your steps.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,766
Likes: 319
From: Mississippi
Sometimes the shoes will make a groove in the drum and you will have to over come that if the shoe is down in the groove.
BUT, I agree.... if the adjuster is backed all the way OUT and not all the way IN..... then the drum should come off. It might take some hammering but it will come off.
The only place it makes any contact is the axle flange and the shoes. Some PB blaster and a hammer should get it aloose from the axle flange.
BUT, I agree.... if the adjuster is backed all the way OUT and not all the way IN..... then the drum should come off. It might take some hammering but it will come off.
The only place it makes any contact is the axle flange and the shoes. Some PB blaster and a hammer should get it aloose from the axle flange.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,448
Likes: 163
From: East Texas
Once you get the drum off, make sure that the half moons at the top of each shoe are seated correctly on the post. I have sometimes had them slip off when stretching the springs.
It is the post that has the pin that the springs attach to.
It is the post that has the pin that the springs attach to.