Brake job question (HELP!) =(
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From: Southwest Washington
Brake job question (HELP!) =(
I just replaced the front brake shoes on my '75 f100 4x4 (only used for off-roading on a budget). I'm not the most experienced mechanic out there and I've never done brake shoes before so I need some help here.... I have the shoes installed right.. all the springs are in the right places, etc, but I'm pretty sure I overlooked something. The wheel cylinder piston on the passenger side is pushed to the point where the drum will not fit over the shoes unless forced. So either it's siezed or i didn't do it right.
Also, i found the contact surface of the driver side drum is rusty so the shoes haven't even been making contact against the drum, whereas the passenger side drum is worn and shiny where the shoes make contact. There was nearly no shoe pad left on the driver side (rusty drum side) while there was about 2.5 to 3mm left on the passenger side shoe pad (smooth drum side). Do I just need new wheel cylinders or is there some way to compress the piston on the passenger side so the drum fits freely over the shoes? Sorry, I know this seems like a silly question.
Also, i found the contact surface of the driver side drum is rusty so the shoes haven't even been making contact against the drum, whereas the passenger side drum is worn and shiny where the shoes make contact. There was nearly no shoe pad left on the driver side (rusty drum side) while there was about 2.5 to 3mm left on the passenger side shoe pad (smooth drum side). Do I just need new wheel cylinders or is there some way to compress the piston on the passenger side so the drum fits freely over the shoes? Sorry, I know this seems like a silly question.
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From: Southwest Washington
yeah the drums are pretty shot and I'd definitely replace them if I didn't plan just to off-road it and not to use it often. Speaking of drums tho, have you heard of front drums on my truck being either $90 a piece or $90 for a pair at a junk yard? That seems a little rediculous for used up drums... They are sealed where you have to take the hub apart to get them off, though (which is also rediculous).
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Oh and they aren't overadjusted... they're backed off as much as possible without losing all tension on against the adjuster. And I made sure the shoes are positioned correctly... I'm pretty sure the only way to contract the shoes is by the piston. So I'll go try to contract the piston with a screwdriver. Thanks for the help!
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If you take both hands and place them on each shoe and push inward they will center themselves.
You did install the primary shoe on the correct side of WC...right ?
Did you replace the brake hardware ?
The springs become weak and useless eventually from temp change & time.
They should be replaced within 10 years or 50,000 miles of use.
You did install the primary shoe on the correct side of WC...right ?
Did you replace the brake hardware ?
The springs become weak and useless eventually from temp change & time.
They should be replaced within 10 years or 50,000 miles of use.
Last edited by Mil1ion; Dec 5, 2006 at 09:26 PM.
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Yeah... I double and tripple checked that I put the right shoes in the right position. And that's exactly what I did to center the shoes. I'm thinking 73's right and it needs new cylinders...
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I didn't replace the hardware, though... And I should, but even so, it seems like I could at least fit the drum over the shoes if i did have bad hardware. I could be wrong, though. Like I said, I've never done brake shoes.
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They are all identical.. this is the only sample I have available for viewing.
It is just important that the primary shoe be installed where it is supposed to.That;s why I mentioned it.
You sometimes have to SEAT the shoes properly in the WC area.
It can take an extra effort to do it.
Also, you lubed the shoe rub points on the backing plate as well ...correct ?
It is just important that the primary shoe be installed where it is supposed to.That;s why I mentioned it.
You sometimes have to SEAT the shoes properly in the WC area.
It can take an extra effort to do it.
Also, you lubed the shoe rub points on the backing plate as well ...correct ?
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Sounds like wheel cylinder is frozen to me. Weak hardware won't make you not be able to put the drum on, but you really should change the hardware. Never heard of drums being $90 from a junkyard. I wouldn't even get drums from a junkyard. New ones aren't that bad. As Mil1ion says though definitely make sure primary and secondary shoes are facing in the proper direction.
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Alright thanks for all the help, guys! Good call on not buying drums from the junk yard... might as well pay a couple extra bucks for new.. or in this case probly a few dollars less.. I can't trust the guys at the local junk yard. Too many stories of how they're crooked. They probably just saw a young kid and figured they'd pull the wool over my eyes. haha Then again I was smart enough to look for drums at a junk yard right? lol Who knows what I was thinking?
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