All,
It's been awhile since I have replace brake shoes. I just replaced the shoes and hardware on my 93. I bought new adjustment star wheel screws as well. Now; to adjust the shoes properly - do you sung them up to the drums until their is some rotational resistance (with the wheels off, and the rear on jack stands), then back off a few turns on the star wheel? I know when the shoes are new, you may have to adjust the adjuster screws a few times, after some initial driving (forward, reverse).

 

yeah, thats right, but don't back off too much. Not that they will, but they are supposed to adjust themselves as they wear.

 

Before you put anything together, un-screw the adjusters and coat the threads generously with anti-sieze.

If you don't, you will remember me telling you to when later they are all froze-up and refuse to turn.

You want them oriented such that, when looking at the backing-plate on the brake-shoe side, the wheels turn UP to tighten; this way, when you adjust them through that little hole in the backside, turning the wheel DOWN tightens the brakes.

I like to run them up pretty snug, with pretty good drag.

Set down on the pedal a few times, rolling the wheel in between applications of the pedal, to keep everything centered.

It is possible to think they are tight, only to have them shift to center and be loose.

Your nose will tell you if they are too tight.

 

BearKiller,
A lot of great input, thanks! I already used a liberal amount of anti-seize on the adjuster screws. I hate stuck screws and bolts I will set up the drums nice and tight, as you suggested. After I take the truck for a few spins, with forward and reverse action, I will re-adjust the adjuster screws.