2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Still having drum brake problems - need help!

[Bob95065]

I am working on my 1997 2500 5 speed truck. This is what I have:



I put a set of Napa Premium shoes and Centric drums on my truck and I am having problems. I started with a set of Centric shoes that adjusted tighter and tighter, even when braking going forward. I could hear the adjusters whenever I started from a stop. I determined that the shoes were causing a problem by putting the original shoes back on the truck.



I bought a set of Napa shoes and put them on the truck. The truck will coast in neutral and I don't hear the adjusters. The brakes feel good. The trouble s the left brake I'd dragging. We used a non-contact temperature sensor and got 260 degrees on the left and 160 degrees on the right after a short test drive. I swapped the drums left to right and got the same result. I didn't measure he temperature of the drums before I started the brake job. I drove home from my friend's house at the end of e day.



I took it on the highway and felt a vibration that wasn't there before I changed the brakes. The brake smell is noticeable and I can feel the heat off the drum on the left side.



I compared the brakes to my friend's 1996 2500 5 speed that has original brakes. This is true because he bought the truck brand new. My brakes are identical to his so I know that I installed mine correctly. My parking brake cable isn't tight and there is slack in the center bar so the brake shouldn't be causing the problem



I am at a loss to what is causing this problem. Des anyone have an idea of what I am doing wrong or missing?

 

[NIsaacs]

Is it possible the drums are not quite deep enough and the shoes edge hits? You also might have a hydraulic issue of some sort going on.

Nick

 

[Hoefler]

Possible the hardware is installed backwards, thus the adjusting while forward braking. Also, are there 2 different shoes, one with more lining on it than the other?? If so, on is the primary and the other the secondary.

 

[Bob95065]

I didn't say that I thought I may have bad hydraulics so I changed the rubber hose from the frame to the axle, the wheel cylinders and flushed the fluid.



I checked the brakes against the FSM and used my friend's 96 which is original. He bought it new and never changed the rear brakes. We put them side by side facing opposite directions and pulled the drums. Both trucks matched.



The brakes feel right and the drums aren't overly tight. Like I said I can remove them easily.



I just got off the phone with a friend who is a professional mechanic. He said he as had bad experiences with Centric rear brake components. He suggested taking the drums back and going with all Napa parts. With bothers me is I swapped the drums left to right and the left side was still hot not the right.

 

[Bob95065]

I have it figured out.

Carlson sells an adjuster hardware kit. I replaced the adjuster hardware and the problem went away. I can drive my truck again!

I find this very strange. The star wheel and springs all seemed fine when I put the brakes together all this time. I am not complaining, I have my truck back. From now on I am changing the shoes, springs and adjusters whenever I replace brakes.

Bob

 

[GAmes]

Thanks for posting the fix. Now I know there is something not to take for granted when I do a brake job.

 

[Bob95065]

It is too late for me... . save yourself!