Last Tuesday, after an 11 mile drive, my right rear drum was hot. It wasn't burst into flames hot, but I could smell it and couldn't touch it.
I had "covered" the brake parking brake pedal when I released the parking brake, and the pedal was still depressed about a quarter of the way.
Wednesday and yesterday, I adjusted the self adjuster out, (Edit: I meant to say I adjusted it in) and after a 26 mile ride this afternoon, the brake drum is warm like maybe 80 to 90 degrees but not hot or stinking.
My left rear drum is cool after the 26 mile ride.
My question is, how warm should the drums be, after a mix of state highway and back roads driving? Should both drums be somewhat warm?
I'm pretty happy with my right drum now, but I'm wondering if I should tighten up the left drum a little.
I'm going to cover the pedal, to keep it from slamming into the lower dash, but let it travel almost to the top, if you know what I mean.
I've read on this and other forums, that issues develop with the wiper delay modules and possibly other electrical connections, from the brake pedal hitting the stop when it's released.
I drive like an old man.

 

I wouldn't worry about the left rear drum running too cool. My only concern would be how the brakes perform and I suppose how far the brake pedal goes down on the first push.

 

Yeah, I mean honestly, I've never paid this much attention to brake drum temperatures, but the incident Tuesday got me looking at them.
All the brake parts are new. Drums, shoes, cylinders, hardware kits and lines. I'm thinking when I first installed them, I left the right side tighter than the left. I've only had it on the road about 10 weeks. The parts are still shiny and the adjusters turn very easy.
I think I'll just keep an eye on that right rear drum, and on longer trips, if it heats up more, I'll back it off a little more.

 

My red-neck method. Set the parking brake 1/2 way down... adjust the star adjusters til they become harder to turn... Release the parking brake. Dun.

 

Thanks, I'll give that a try if issues continue.

 

Took another look at the overheating brake drum today. The right rear cable is binding up, so I unhooked it until a new one comes.
I can pull the cable out with pliers, but it doesn't release on its own.

 

Put a new passenger's side brake cable on today. It's all good.