ok fng here, nice to meet everyone, ill try to be brief, am changing drum brakes on 85 f150 4x4 after the shoes were installed the drum is very tight going back on in about half way there now with a hammer and block of wood but im not sure everthing is cool?? i have backed off the adjuster all the way as well .. thanks for any help

 

You should be able to take the palms of your hand and squeeze the upper part of the shoes, moving the wheel cylinder inward on both sides. If you can't, the wheel cylinder has a frozen piston(s) inside.

 

Stuck brake cable would do that also.

 

ok new wheel cylanders as well forgot to mention, the ebrake cable looks to be pretty buggered up with a good size pinch would this be a prob??

 

Your sure you have all three springs in correct places?

 

ya i believe so im still working on the 1st side and wanted to make sure so i pulled off the other side to lookat it and it looks exactly the same.. i just dont know what to do and its a brand new drum looks to be the correct size not sure what to do next?

 

Here's a picture, just to double check;


Did you have the drum turned? Usually, there is a lip that will develop on the outer edge of the inside of the drum (just outside the pad contact area). If that lip is not turned down to the same level as the pad wear surface inside the drum, it could make it difficult to put the drum back over the new pads.

 

Like was said, a stuck "on" parking brake cable would also cause you not have any room for the drum to slide on. And these trucks are famous for stuck parking brake cables. Also make sure you have a small shoe and a large shoe on it. Not two large shoes on one side.

 

Make sure both shoes are firmly contacting the anchor pin, if they are your park brake is ok. If thats good make sure the adjuster is positioned properly.

 

hey thanks everyone, brakes are 100% now , it slid right on this morning, bled the lines got good pedal and no leaks, had to replace one line. just bought the trk 2 days ago. 85 f150 4x4 351w H.O. runs awesome. went to the salvage yard today bought a window for the door. was busted out so ill try tomorrow to get it in. im also going to post pics. thanks again