2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 3500 Rear Brake Shoes ?

[rrl989]

Anyone know for certain what shoe goes front/back, the new shoes come in as one thicker than the other ?

 

[charlessmith]

Don't know about Dodge specifically.

But, where the two brake shoes are anchored at one common point, and the other end of the shoes are touching the wheel cylinder, EG, there is only one wheel cylinder for the brake - one shoe is what I'd call a leading shoe and the other trailing.

If you imagine the brake drum turning counter clock wise, and the wheel cylinder being at the top - then the shoe on the left side of this imaginary picture is the leading shoe. It does most of the braking since the rotation of the drum tends to self apply this shoe. Since it does most of the braking, it will also wear the fastest.

My guess is the thicker shoe goes in the leading position.

Does that make sense?

 

[snappy]

The shorter and thicker shoe is the primary shoe. It goes to the front. The longer shoe is the secondary; it goes to the rear.

 

[rrl989]

In my case, I bought the shoes from Car Quest. The thicker shoe has the longer pad so it appears that would be the primary (towards the engine). I can't be the first person to be confused about this.

 

[B.G. Smith]

The short shoe goes in the front, when brakes are applied going forward the short shoe engages the drum and forces the long shoe into the drum harder. bg

 

[rrl989]

My shorter and thinner shoe is going on the front, the longer and thicker is going on the back. Enough reading tells me now the back pad does more work based on the drum design and they ways it works. Thanks for all the info.