Rear brake rebuild almost done, now this...

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MrR0gers

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Hey guys,

Went to work on the truck today: complete rebuild of rear brakes: replaced rigid brake lines, ebrake cables, new shoes, cylinders, drums, hardware, everything. Got it all put together, bled the brakes and now I can't get the new drums to fit over the shoes. They get halfway over and just stick. I've double checked that the cylinders are in all the way, the ebrake is not engaged at all, the adjuster is all the way in, the parts are correct and I've beat on it with a big hammer. I'm about to burn this mo down because this defies all logic. Hopefully I'm just missing something obvious but any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.
 

chrisbh17

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Is the drum hanging up on the shoes or maybe the hub?

Clean off the hub really good (get rid of any surface rust, etc). maybe even get some emory cloth and run it lightly around the outer ring of the hub to make sure its clean.
 
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MrR0gers

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Thanks for the thought. The drum doesn't even make it to the studs before it catches on the shoes so I don't believe it is the hub.
 

McBroom

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Thanks for the thought. The drum doesn't even make it to the studs before it catches on the shoes so I don't believe it is the hub.

The shoes are spread too far apart. Turn the adjuster to close the diameter of the shoes and drum will slide on with ease


I Love My 2018 RAM 2500HD 4x4 6.4L. USMC (ret)
 

gofishn

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on the bottom wil be and adjuster, turn that all teh way 'in' and then do emory cloth on teh inside of the drum to remove all debris. should fit right over all teh new parts. Bottom line, if the drum will not go on, either th eparts are incorrect or i there is osmething keeping them from collapsing to their smallest possible foot print. cannot be anything else.
 

SYKRAMMAN

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Worst case is to grind down the shoes, worst case! But the adjuster should allow enough clearance when backed down all the way.
 

BWL

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If you still haven't figured it out put up a pic with the combo drum/rotor off and someone may see the problem.
 

jessyj

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You need to get those wheel cylinder pistons pushed back in. You are very lucky you didn,t blow it all apart and have a huge mess on your hands.
 
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MrR0gers

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The shoes are spread too far apart. Turn the adjuster to close the diameter of the shoes and drum will slide on with ease


I Love My 2018 RAM 2500HD 4x4 6.4L. USMC (ret)

The adjuster is as far in as it goes.

You need to get those wheel cylinder pistons pushed back in. You are very lucky you didn,t blow it all apart and have a huge mess on your hands.

This is originally what I thought the problem to be but both shoes are seated against the pin at the top middle. The cylinder cannot collapse any smaller.

If you still haven't figured it out put up a pic with the combo drum/rotor off and someone may see the problem.

I'll do this today. I'll have some time to work on it a little later. It's got me stumped.
 
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MrR0gers

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Here are the pictures. You can see that the cylinder and adjuster are both in as far as possible.

6TX7C2M.jpg
Nmrhxfc.jpg
iIGTSPz.jpg
 
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MrR0gers

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now that you mention it, it does....

Also, I just disassembled everything and reassembled it. I used a large pair of channel locks to push the cylinider arms even farther in. Still no go...
 

McBroom

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Worst case is to grind down the shoes, worst case! But the adjuster should allow enough clearance when backed down all the way.

Your outta your mind. What the hell are you thinking. Install new shoes and grind them down so the drum goes back on. I’m damn sure glad your not working on my truck!!


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McBroom

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Here are the pictures. You can see that the cylinder and adjuster are both in as far as possible.

6TX7C2M.jpg
Nmrhxfc.jpg
iIGTSPz.jpg

The longer (thicker)pad belongs on the back. the short (thinner)shoe towards the front of the truck.
The short shoe is known as the reverse (back up) the long is the forward brake shoe.
The reason I say this is when the brakes are applied the shoe holds against the top pin and spreads slightly with the plunger from the brake cylinder
The springs look correctly connected. Can you show me a pic of the inspection/adjuster hole in relation to the adjuster. I’m thinking something may be wrong right there.


I Love My 2018 RAM 2500HD 4x4 6.4L. USMC (ret)
 
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MrR0gers

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McBroom, thanks for your help. Here's the picture. Hope this is what you were wanting. I get what you're saying. The adjuster appears to be off center from the hole but I didn't think it was too bad. Also, went back to O'reilly and spoke with them about it. They have no clue...not that they ever do...
G6IVtIW.jpg
 

McBroom

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McBroom, thanks for your help. Here's the picture. Hope this is what you were wanting. I get what you're saying. The adjuster appears to be off center from the hole but I didn't think it was too bad. Also, went back to O'reilly and spoke with them about it. They have no clue...not that they ever do...
G6IVtIW.jpg

Have you swapped sides with the shoes yet?


I Love My 2018 RAM 2500HD 4x4 6.4L. USMC (ret)
 
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MrR0gers

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I haven't but the forward shoe has a pin that the adjuster lever mounts to so they'll only fit on one side. You can see it at the very right of the last picture. Still think I should switch the fronts though?
 

McBroom

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24eaf42e3139dab17d956e080eef8e09.jpg


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McBroom

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It’s all looking correctly installed. Are the shoes centered on the backing plate?


I Love My 2018 RAM 2500HD 4x4 6.4L. USMC (ret)
 
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