I installed new drum brake lining following Jim Lane's sticky in the brake section.
After two days found that the parking brake peddle could only be pushed two clicks down.
Jacked up the real wheels and found one wheel could not be turned by hand and the other wheel was very hard to turn.
Used a 1/8" bent welding rod as Jim showed to push the adjusting plate and backed off the star wheel on both sides.
The pivot screws on the star wheels point to the front of the truck as shown in Jim's picture Also when the adjusting plate moves up the lining is expanded.
The new lining was not arched to the drums.

The question is what is causing the adjuster to bind the lining to the drum?

 

Double check and make sure your self adjusters are properly installed and are on the correct sides.

Also check and make sure the spring that tensions the adjusting lever also applies inward tension towards the backing plate, this also acts a ratchet to keep it from moving by itself.

Do you have any pictures?
Jim

 

Did you do the brakes one side at a time or did you take both apart at once? It sounds like you have them swapped from side to side. The adjuster star wheel assemblies LOOK alike but are not. If you have them swapped, they will tighten when you stop while going forward, not backwards.

 

Jim, I backed off on the parking brake cable adjuster nut and both star adjusters to get the wheels to turn by hand.
Ran it for a day having to push the parking down about 12 clicks to park.
Today I went up the street and backed up stopping about twenty times.
Jacked the rear end up and turned the tires with a slight drag now.
It would be nice to have no drag at all, but you can't everything.
So it looks like it was the parking brake adjustment so far.

 

You shouldn't ever have to adjust the parking brake cable except for when it stretches, once you install new lining the adjustment is restored.

Something still seems amiss.

BTW where in Glendale are you, I am just East off Hwy-39 Azusa Ave.

Jim

 

I would adjust them manually. Backing up is supposed to do it but if you manually do it your assured results and/or you figure out if you have a problem with assembly etc.

 

Jim,I am in Glendale near Pacific and Glenoaks about 25 miles west of you.
My son lives in Covina off Puente and Vincent about 2 miles west of you.
He has a 2006 Cummins Mega Cab with the G56 trans.

 

Hey
Maybe not even that far, I am off Covina Blvd and Azusa Ave.
So what ever happened with your brakes?

Jim

 

Jim, I did not like the slight drag the adjuster puts on the shoes, so I took them off.
Am having to drive up to Pacific Grove next week for three days and like the idea of the rear wheels turning free with new shoes.
Also changed the rear end oil.
Packed the front bearings and noticed the pads also have a slight drag, but not as much as the rear shoes with adjusters. While I had the front jacked up,lubed the ball joints and changed the anti freeze.
When I get back will have to change the oil and filter(6,000 miles).
I run B100 that I make for the last five years.
Have a 2 micron filter up stream of the LP what will need to be change when I reach Pacific Grove or when I get back. Have not had to change the main fuel filter in years.
By the way you are not the only one that is retired.

 

What? Please elaborate!

 

I removed the adjuster plate and spring that holds the plate down.