Can't get drums back on?!?!

Hi,

I'm just checking out my rear brakes on my new project truck. They're a little off and I want to clean/fix them up. I used the 8mm holes on the rear drums to get them off and now I can't get them back on. I compressed the rod (star adjuster) between the two shoes and the e-brake is off, but I'll be damned if the drum is going to go back on again. I don't want to start smashing the drum with a hammer.

Is there something I'm missing here? There is a bit of a lip on the drum, but hardly much. Sure is a pain compared to disk brakes......

Thanks,

Scott

 

I have never taken the drum brakes on a Tacoma apart yet but every other truck I've ever done required the use of a mallet. I know not much help but it's the truth lol.

 

Try lightly pulling ebrake and releasing.

 

Thanks, but that's part of the issue. The star adjuster is turned all the way. It can't compress any further........Not sure how to compress it more. The pistons are compressed too with a C-clamp. Something is out here....??!?!

 

What about loosening the bleeder and seeing if the shoes will compress a little. Or maybe the drum is out of round and you need to keep rotating it till it slides on.

 

Did you try just brute force with your hands to push the shoes toward the center? There's probably some play the star adjuster couldn't compress due to stretched springs and stuff. Squeeze them like a man. Don't hammer on them though.

 

Did you have the drums turned? They may need it...

 

Ok, I was able to release some of the brake fluid and compress the pistons a little further. That worked to get the drums back on. I also cleaned up the inside and drum with brake cleaner.

I then went for a road test to see if things were better - the initial problem was that the brakes are locking up in the rear end. It starts out good, normal pedal travel and good braking, but after some pedal taps the brakes start to lock up and the brakes pedal feels hard with little travel and little braking power.

Not sure what the problem is here. The pistons are working fine, the shoes are all cleaned up......

Anybody have the same thing ever? The truck is an '03.

Is there a brake proportioning valve that I should look at? How would I know it ate the shiter?

Thanks

 

Did you bleed your brakes again after opening up that bleeder to get the drums back on??

Are you sure those rear cylinders aren't bad?

I was just messing with my rear brakes on my '03, I adjusted them with the star wheel, then bled, then tapped the brakes to get them to seat themselves. The first time I bled them the brake fluid came out black and they bled fine.

When I tapped the brakes to get them to seat, while I still had the drums off the seal blew...

The cylinder is $15 at the big box parts stores, or you can wait and order from RockAuto for around $5

 

If the shoes were contaminated, when they get hot the fluid that soaked into the shoes, gets on the drum and causes the brake shoes to grab, sometimes brake clean will help, what I have done in the pass was to heat up the shoes with a propane torch you will see the oil or brake fluid come out and wipe it with clean rag, after doing that at least 3 times, I would use brake clean with a clean rag, and re scuff the shoes with sand paper.

Is the adjustment equal on both sides, if one is tighter than the other the tight one will lock up, first check the adjustment. Count the threads on the adjuster. I would check this first before heating up shoes.

If you have a solid pedal no need to bleed them.

Good luck

 

Sounds to me like worn out return springs...remember that drum brakes use the force applied as a multiplier....so if you have a worn out return spring this might be an NJ issue.