I had the rear end rebuilt, but when I put the brakes together and drums on they don't seat right. If I remember correctly, the drums should be flush, but please correct me if I'm wrong here. I ensured the shop had every part needed, but I can't figure out what went wrong causing what appears as a 2mm drum to hub issue. The drum is seated on the backing plate and still doesn't set flush with the hub. Hopefully you can see the issue in the photos. Should I take it back in or is there an easy explanation for this sort of thing?
They are the ones that came on it. I am a bit too cheap to buy new ones since these worked before I tore it apart.
I see the axles have been painted, but I doubt that would account for 2 mm. Are the axles original? Probably your best bet will be to take back to the rebuilder. It sounds like the axles are sticking out too far which would indicate something awry inside the pumpkin.
They are the original axles. I had them powder coated at the same time with everything else. I suppose you're right about needing to take it back to the shop that rebuilt it. I was hoping to avoid taking it back because its far, but I guess that may be the only thing left to do. Thanks for your help
Looks to me like the axles were pressed into the main gear a tick too far? If all parts are the same, but the back of the drum is hitting the backing plate and your drum won't sit flush to the hub I cannot imagine what else it might be. I really don't know how much is possible as far as the axles being into the main gear set too far but anytime I have pulled axles the bearing on the axle (and its distance from the hub) has always set the hub the correct distance as far as mating the drum is concerned. Call the re-builder and let them know...
The last picture you posted is the key,it looks like you installed your brakes backwards after watching the video from the "Sticky" https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=549&v=JBa2GS3MPHs&feature=emb_logo take a look at the picture@ 11.00 and compare it to your picture.
I don't see what you mean Jeff. I put the shoe with longer pad material towards the rear of the vehicle as suggested in the video and others as well. Is it the top springs that you mean? Maybe its because its hard to tell the picture is of the right side of the frame.
I'm thinking of a few things causing this. ***uming you are using all the original parts. 1. Brake shoes are hitting the end of the drum stopping them from going all the way on, you say they are the same width as originals. 2. Since you powder coated the axles I ***ume you replaced the bearings. Some replacement bearings have a spacer that goes on first which if missing would allow the axle to go in farther than it should. 3. Wrong bearings used if they were replaced. I could be over thinking this, but since I'm not there it is difficult to see what is going on. Put the drum back on and spin it. Look for witness marks on the backing plate to find out if it is trying to go on to far. Dave
Looking at the picture of brake shoes. Self adjusting cable isn't installed correctly, unless you have already fixed it..lol Dave
I did replace the bearings, but I don't know if there was a spacer missing or not. I hope it was not missing. There are marks on the backing plate where the drum is running across the plate that I ***ume means its sitting in the correct location and the axles are not. You are right, and I did not notice I had put up a picture with the adjusting cable in the wrong position. I did correct that previously, but thanks for looking out
They were, but I adjusted them out to put the drum on and realized it wasn't seating correctly. I put the shoes back in all the way, and it didn't change the way the drum was sitting.
If this is true... Then I highly doubt your brakes are the issue here. To me, "seated on the backing plate" means that the lip of the drum is hitting the backing plate and you still have space between the hub and drum. If you want to double check, remove the brakes from the backing plate and slip the drum on the hub. If you still hit the backing plate and the drum does not seat to the hub then you know it has to be something else other than the shoes, hardware, etc.
I have thought of this same thing, but I'm only reluctant because it was such a pain in the *** to get them together. I also may have forgot to put on the anchor pin plate at first. Anyway, I suppose I'll take your advice and stop being lazy. I'm sure that is the best way to ensure its not the brake shoes themselves causing the issue. Thank you for the help.
If you still have your old bearings compare them to what was installed. There may be a difference. The marks on the backing plate indicates the drums are going all the way on so I'd bet there is something weird in the way the axle is mounted. Dave
The acid test to rule out the brakes is to take one side apart, check the fit of both drums. Easy for me to say, I did brakes for years and it would take me 15 minutes. One guess is the wrong bearing may have been used, however the I.D. and O.D. have to be right on to fit it to the axle and inside the housing. I'll call that possibility remote. My best guess is that the bearings were pressed on a little shy of "home", which holds the axle out that 2mm in your case. They are the same on both sides? The "press" part is the locking ring that comes with the bearing. Talk to the shop first before you take it apart. It may be as simple as pressing the lock ring on a little more. When I do them, I take a measurement of the old bearing location before I take the old bearings off. It would be cool if someone here had a loose axle to compare bearing locations. Is it possible to flip the retainer plate upside down?
One member posted this on facebook of his completed brakes see the difference ? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10222648452138066&set=pcb.10222648453618103&type=3&theater
I bought new shoes and realized that not only are they front side back side specific but left side right side specific. I went through three sets and finally ground the front sides so the drums would slide back. They never really adjusted well or stopped well. S****ed the whole thing and used a Lincoln Versailles disc brake rear. There are much better drums that will fit the stock flange also.
I’m with BobSS, take all the brake parts off then try the drum again. If the same put on a sliding hammer and see if you can pull the axle out the 3/8” or so you need. That powder coat needs to come off the axle purchase edge where the drum fits. If it works and looks good then one of 2 things. 1 the bearing is too narrow or 2 the ring that’s pressed on after the bearing is not there. I’ve found some of the rings **** up to the housing or get real close. They can’t touch or the axle won’t turn. I’m guessing the bearing too narrow or needs a spacer behind it because it’s going in too far.
As suggested, I took the brakes apart on the p***enger side and the drum sat in the same place. The two drums do sit slightly different right now. There slightly less than 2mm gap on the drivers side between the hub and drum. I would say your guess about the bearing pressed on incorrectly sounds like the most probable to me. Thanks for bringing the pressing up, I hadn't thought of that part yet.
Jeff do you mean that I need to swap the two top springs? I already fixed the cable and have the lower stuff the way it should be, but I do see my springs on top are seated differently than the picture you shared.
Sometimes the least little detail can cause a problem,the good part is it won't cost anything to find out.
I'm not sure if they are different lengths, but you may be right. I hope that a shop with their reputation of quality didn't make a mistake as to not measuring and putting the proper size in for each tube.
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