Rear brake trouble,.............

Not having a lot of miles put on the truck after having the drums turned and new lining installed I was manually setting up my rear breaks and with in a day or two I was getting a horrific chatter when applying the brakes, it almost felt like the truck was jumping off the ground. I experience the same thing once before when I parked and used the "E" break to park, not hard on but just a little, and when I came out and drove off I forgot about the E break being on and a mile down the road I had to stop for a stop sign and I got the same chatter that jarred your teeth, and I remembered that E break so I released it and that solved the problem.

Now I was thinking that what cause the problem I now have been having is some what the same as the E break being on, and that is I may of set my breaks up to tight. It has a posi track rear end and with the rear end jacked up its hard to turn one wheel as both wheels turn causing a lot of drag. Which might make me set the breaks up to tight ????

So ! here is the question: Has anyone ever had this problem with the their truck and the rear breaks? And if so what was the cause of your problem?

Robert

 

Sounds like you got them too tight allright. Drive it around for about 10-20 miles then see how hot the rims and hub are. If its too hot to touch or almost, you have them too tight. You should tighten them up untill they just start to touch(you should be able to hear them).

 

Well Partsman,

Should be able to do just as you say, but the posi track has so much resistance turning both wheels that's its hard to do that.

Robert

 

I adjust my brakes up all the way and trhen back them off about 3-5 clicks, you have to push the self adjusting lever in to back them off. This way the brakes are set evenly and I get no brake pull.

 

Just a thought.... my gas Dodge did the same thing right after installing new drums. Turns out the previous owner installed both primary pads on one side and both secondary pads on the other side. I know on my other truck the difference in the length of the lining surface on the shoe was very small, but enough to cause what you are describing. In fact I didn't even notice, it was a buddy of mine that works at a garage that spotted the problem. HTH

MIke

 

MDMIKE is right putting the shoes on wrong will cause your problem. Check to see if the shoes are in the correct place.

 

OK Guys, MDMIKE and INJECTOR, got ya.

Well I am sure the new brakes shoes I put on seven months ago were put on right, since I put them on I've had the drums off 6 or 7 times, just today I've had them on and off twice just to make sure that everything is double checked and is right.

So In leu of that, I must say I agree with the assessment that I had over tightened the them and that is what cause the jumping and hopping down the road.

I hang my head in shame guys..................... but boy I find it a lot harder to adjust the brakes on a posi track than just a plain rear end.

Anyway I thank you for your thoughts as it has helped me to confirm my theory.

Robert

 

I have always used a mechanics stethoscope held against the backing plate to be able to hear the sound of the shoes scrubbing when I turn the drum. One other thing to remember to do is, after getting the shoes adjusted out to where you think they are about the right tightness, get in and hit the brakes so the cylinders push the brakes out and set the parking brake - this helps to make sure that the top of the shoes are "reset" after adjusting the bottom. Let off the parking brake and spin the tires again to see if the adjustment stayed the same.

Personally I try to get a light scrape for about half the rotation of the tire - more than half a rotation scrape is just a little too tight and under it is too loose. I have run across drums that were so out of round (overheated at some point) that I could not get a good adjustment out of them until they were turned.

Mainly trial and error. Also a good excuse to get an infrared heat gun to check the temps of the drums to see if they are the same after several quick stops from speed.

 

HMmmmmmm Interesting! Thanks redramnc will keep that in mind.

Robert

 

HM,mmmmmmmmmmmm changing the subject a tad, It looks like I've been demoted from Senior Member down to just a Member.

Oh Sick