I have been having trouble with my rear brakes since I got my truck about a year ago. Yesterday I had enough and went picked up a new set of pads and the Chevy wheel cylinders at NAPA. If it would have cost $500, I would have spent it in a heartbeat! It stops GREAT!

What I found was:

1) Pads were not adjusted correctly (AGAIN!!!)
2) Pads were completely glazed over.
3) One of the cylinders was beginning to leak.

If you haven't done this mod yet...DO IT! It was a lot of work fighting with the springs, lifting the drums on and off 342 times to get them adjusted right, but it was well worth the 4 or 5 hours it took me to do it. The first one took about 2 1/2 - 3 hours, and the last one I knocked out in no time.

The cylinders were $12 ea. and the pads were $30 something. So for $60 and a few hours the truck stops on a dime.

Thanks to all who posted about this in the past and helped persuade me to do this.

 

Can't you adjust the shoes through the little inspection holes in the backing plate and not have to take the drums off?

 

Not that I know of. Besides, how would you know when they are tight enough?

 

Tightne them untill snug then back off a few turns, like adjusting your trailer brakes.

it's best if you jack the wheel up, tighten them as you spin the wheel. You should feel an ever so slight drag, more like listen until you hear the shoe just grazing the drum. Then it's adjusted.

 

Yep, those rubber plugs on the bottom of the backing plate are for the good old fashioned brake spoon. Just turn the star adjuster till your hear the shoes just touch but still spins nicely. Kevin

 

I also installed the new 1 ton chevy wheel cylinders on the rear, and I too am in total
agreement that they are one of the best mods I have done yet. Still need to get the 3 G
springs in, but if you have not done cylinders you need too.

PS If you are only changing the cylinders you don't even need to take the shoes loose just remove springs at the top and slip the shoes apart, remove the old cylinders and replace them with the new ones. Very easy.

 

Do you know if they are self adjusting? Usually you can just go in reverse 5-10 mph, and slam on brakes. I don't know if these do it. Anyone know for sure?

 

I am planning on doing mine this weekend, seems as if all who have done this are very happy. Is there any related problems to the abs system? The brakes shops I have asked have not recommended changing from the stock system due to the liability reasons, but I am planning on doing it as this is where the good info is. Ken

 

They are supposed to be, but they don't work. Most people adjust theirs at every oil change.

 

drive in rewind and ratchet the E-brake, thats supposed to actuate the star adjusters. that is if the adjusters will turn easily, if they're stiff it won't work

 

Every oil change put a floor jack under the rear pumpkin. Jack er up then adjust the shoes by hand. Spin the rear tires by hand and adjust the shoes by hand until they start to drag. Done.

 

does anyone know the part numbers for the rear cylinders and if it will work on a 3500 4x4 dualy?

 

The wheel cylinders are Napa #4637337 this will cross over at most other auto parts. If they are asking more than $15 each they are the wrong ones. These cylinders will improve the stopping on every Ram with rear drum brakes

 

Just finished putting in new pads and GM wheel cylinders this evening. Man, what a difference! You guys were right. It feels like a totally different braking system. I replaced the pads all around while I was at it as well. Sure glad I did it.