Self adjuster setup?

[nola mike]

I have the proper tools, the springs came on and off a few times and were on the floor. One of the adjusters was tight, but the other was not. Both greased and turning freely now. If that lever is supposed to sit below the wheel then that's my problem. But no way it will do that.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Well you can manually adjust them out...

That lever will drop as the shoes become closer to proper adjustment.

The shoes will come closer to the anchor pin too. If you don't get the shoes to the anchor pin... they will never be right.

Right now the park brake strut is holding the shoes away from the anchor.

 

[nola mike]

Well you asked if the shoes can stay in place... they can... but you would have to release the return springs from the anchor pin to put the cable behind the return springs. Houdini not required.

They are also assembled wrong in your picture... the cable is behind the anchor pin plate (first picture). It should go anchor pin plate... self adjusting cable... then return springs. Trust me on not having to take shoes off to replace cable. Pop those springs off the anchor pin and switch stuff around... shoes never come off the backing plate.

The brake shoes should be pulled tight to the anchor pin... they are not. This will certainly give you a low pedal. Looks to me like they need to be adjusted tighter and it may fix the gap between the anchor pin and the shoes.

Ok, even with that assembled wrong though, you think that would be the difference in the lever riding that high? Keep in mind that that was the before pic, I don't think I had that much gap when I reinstalled, and the drums are pretty tight with the new shoes.

 

[nola mike]

Well you can manually adjust them out...

That lever will drop as the shoes become closer to proper adjustment.

The shoes will come closer to the anchor pin too. If you don't get the shoes to the anchor pin... they will never be right.

Right now the park brake strut is holding the shoes away from the anchor.

Gotcha. Didn't manually adjust because the drums are already tight, but if the shoes aren't against the pin then that would explain it. Maybe I'll check it out tomorrow

 

[Uncle Gump]

Right.... with the shoes out from the pin... the drum will be tight. But if the shoes aren't on the pin... the pedal is typically low and spongy. They won't ever be right until that gets corrected.

These rear brakes have enough problems when done right.

If you can't get the shoes back to the pin with shoe adjustment... you will have to adjust the park brake.

Take pictures.

 

[nola mike]

Ok, went back in there today. Tried to get the cable on the correct side of the anchor pin plate...and it was seized to the anchor pin. Same thing on the other side. I managed to get it loose and in the right order, and the adjuster lever dropped a bit. Loosening the cable let the eye slide a bit on the pin, and pivot enough to give it just enough slack. Still doesn't spring back to the bottom with a lot of gusto, but if I push it down, or wiggle things until it drops, it then engages the wheel when I pull the cable. Brakes still don't engage super quickly, and the drum still felt tight going on, but we'll see if that changes after driving a bit. I'm going to take an IR thermometer after a drive to make sure they're not too tight. After pics attached, thanks for the help.

 

[RonD]

Spin the start wheel to expand the shoes then try to put on drum, should barely go on, i.e. will be rubbing a bit, this also Centers the shoes/parts, but not to tight, should slide on and off..........assuming no ridge on drum

 

[nola mike]

There's definitely a ridge on the drum. I wire wheeled it but didn't get too aggressive.

 

[Uncle Gump]

That looks way better... can't see if the shoes are up against the anchor pin... but they have to be to work properly.

Before you put the drums on... take a pair of pliers and squeeze the park brake lever horseshoe clip closed on both sides. If that falls off... and it looks like it could... it will ruin your day and your brakes.

 

[RonD]

If there is a ridge on the edge then at some point in the past the drums were metal on metal with shoes
Get new drums, even from a wrecking yard, as long as they don't have the ridge they are fine to use