Dang rear brakes

Lamont_24 · Jan 5, 2013

my rear brakes were not working at all, so I take the drums off and one side is dry but the other is soaked in oil so I replace the axle seal and put new shoes in. I had new drums but mine were like brand new so I didn't change them, drive it and its the same as it was before, what's the next step to fix this problem?

ajfetterman · Jan 5, 2013

I would bleed the brake lines to make sure you are getting fluid/pressure to the brakes, then go from there.

mandkole · Jan 5, 2013

x2-- try just opening the bleeder on the furthest whl cyl first and just let it gravity run. Keep the master full and see if any air comes out the line, then do the drivers side cylinder. Right before you close each wheel cylinder, have the someone press/hold the pedal then close the w/c.

Then run the pedal and check to see if the brake shoes are moving inside the drums (you should hear the springs moving). Also, if your brake shoes are adjusted correctly (moderate drag on the drum), you should get firm ebrake pedal pretty quickly.

You may have a bad w/c if the shoes dont move after doing the above.

Bobby@cp · Jan 5, 2013

SD axle swap...... Disk brakes rule.

Cat_rebel · Jan 5, 2013

Sounds like your shoes are out of adjustment, &/or you may have air in the system back there.

Lamont_24 · Jan 5, 2013

Well I try bleeding them, hopefully that's the problem, thanks guys

Bugman · Jan 5, 2013

Did you adjust them when you got everything cleaned up? If they are out of adjustment you could bleed them from now until next year and they will never get better.

Cat_rebel · Jan 5, 2013

Bugman said:
Did you adjust them when you got everything cleaned up? If they are out of adjustment you could bleed them from now until next year and they will never get better.

:whs:

Magnum PD · Jan 5, 2013

Thought this was gonna be thread about rear brake cables.

Lamont_24 · Jan 5, 2013

Bugman said:
Did you adjust them when you got everything cleaned up? If they are out of adjustment you could bleed them from now until next year and they will never get better.

I did, but who knows if I did it right so really I shouldn't say I did, "I tried" haha

TERRCO · Jan 6, 2013

Seems like I have to adjust my rear shoes every 4-6 months. Sometimes sooner. Push your emergency brake in. If it acts at all like its not holding then they are not adjusted right. The emergency brake always tells me when it's time to adjust the brakes. If you have an auto then that's why you never know because you never use the emergency brake.

Pstroke96 · Jan 19, 2013

terrco. did you ever change the cable inside the drum assembly? i ate up one side of a set cause one side wasnt adjusting, i replaced the cables. the adjuster barrel and that claw like thing that the cable pulls on. i got it at advanced for like 15 bucks problem solved. i use my parking brake every time i park and its been over a year and they still hold perfect

TERRCO · Jan 20, 2013

I replaced both sides about 4 years ago. Still does it. I replaced everything new in the rears. Maybe I don't know what I'm doing? I spin the hub then keep adjusting till when I spin the hub it slows down fast. When I finish adjusting the brakes they work great for a few months then slowly start needing adjustment.

Pstroke96 · Jan 20, 2013

http://m.advanceautoparts.com/mt/sh...-wearever_3551601-p?searchTerm=Brake+adjuster

This is what I replaced and its been fine ever since

85_305 · Feb 4, 2013

TERRCO said:
Seems like I have to adjust my rear shoes every 4-6 months. Sometimes sooner. Push your emergency brake in. If it acts at all like its not holding then they are not adjusted right. The emergency brake always tells me when it's time to adjust the brakes. If you have an auto then that's why you never know because you never use the emergency brake.

Wait, if your e-brake doesn't hold then your rear-brakes aren't adjusted or working properly? Because my e-brake took all of my pedal and it STILL would roll, until my damn e-brake cable snapped.

TERRCO · Feb 4, 2013

Your cables were probably stretched already and needing replacement.

85_305 · Feb 4, 2013

So do you think my rear brakes are working just fine then?

89 Stroker · Feb 4, 2013

replace the cylinders, mine were leaking for the longest time and replaced everything besides the drum, now they work great

TERRCO · Feb 4, 2013

I think I can blame my break problems on a very slow leak from the rear axle seals. It wasn't evident until a month back. Anyway I think that little bit of oil is burning up my shoes.
85-305 when your emergency brake won't hold the truck from rolling you nead to adjust those rear brakes. It's not hard to do. There is a knock out you can remove to do it with the tires on but I just pull the tires off. Check the fit of the drum over the shoes. It should just barely go on. It should not slip right over. You should have some friction going on. Pull it on and off adjusting the shoes till the drum is somewhat snug over the pads. Not tight! You should be able to spin the drum and it should maybe make maybe two whole turns. It should not keep spinning. Do both sides then put the tires and and try it. The pedal should grab with less than half pedal.