e-brake adjustment

[layedout72]

Alright, so I got my brakes put all back together, everything where it should be, and wouldnt ya know....adjusted until the star-wheel is almost loose between the pads, the drum wont fit. Thicker pads, new wheel cylinders, who knows the cause. ANYWAYS. The drum from the driver side fit the passenger, and the passenger fit the driver. Why? I think the e-brake may be the culprit. How can I be sure it's not engaged? Meaning.....how can I tell the star wheel isn't too far adjusted to pull the pads in, when really they should be tighter, cuz the e-brake is on. Does that make sense?

[layedout72]

okay, now....i went back out, pushed the e brake down a couple clicks. the passenger side grabs hard, the driver side, it grabs....but only a little. i can still turn the wheel "easily" (a little muscle in it)

[Wes]

something is not right here, you have a primary and secondary shoe on each side ? Did backing plate have groves in the shoe pad stands ? the Spreader bar slots engaged fully in the shoes.
The P brake cable should be sloppy loose under truck with the star wheel adjuster all the way in. By moving the P brake lever back and forth at the rear brakes observe the shoe movement, ease of cable sliding, and effort to move P brake lever.
Hope this helps

[layedout72]

you mean the little piece at the middle of the truck? Everything is back where it came from, so nothing is missing. I have no extra parts haha. I have two shoes on each drum of course, one with more pad than the other (rear pad). That pad has a lever on its back side which connects to what I believe is the e-brake cable. It makes sense for it to be. The driver side was a good bit tougher to push onto the lever hook, than the passenger, but I may have done something out of step to cause this, not my deal to say why yet. If it makes a difference, brakes have no fluid, only messing with the e-brake right now.

[layedout72]

any body else have some ideas?

[Wes]

well it seems, if the star wheels are adjusted the same, that your drums are 2 different diameters. So you'll need to tighten up the left star well a little more.
Or the right cable is binding and not releasing as far as the left.

Try this back off the star wheels, both sides. Set the p brake pedal 1/3. If the star wheels are as short as they will get and the brakes drag or won't turn w/ the p brake at 1/3, loosen the cable. Release the p brake and check that the brake aren't dragging. Then adjust the star wheels so the drums w/ tires spin 1 full turn, w/ a good spin effort. Apply P brake 1/3 to 1/2 adjust cable so wheels are just tight to spin by hand. Release P brake and check for drag. Your rear brakes should be adjusted correctly now.
You will need to readjust in few hundred miles, after the corners wear of the shoes.

[layedout72]

thanks a lot bro. got em adjusted and working well. turns a little at 2 clicks, and locks up fully with the pedal pressed down half/all the way. now...for those front brakes!