Rear Drums

[VileZambonie]

pound a socket on there and snap it off. I have plenty of brake tools if you need them I will give them to you.

[SUX2BU99]

Hey, thanks for the offer! Both the pliers and spring tool have both been great advice so far. And I got that bolt off. I did like you said and just pounded a socket on there. I guess it gripped better than it did before getting mangled because the bolt came free! Now the trick is getting the socket off the bolt, but my vise, a punch and a hammer will fix that.

I got the bare backing plate all wire brushed and will coat it with Chassis Saver, then reinstall the new parts. Progress is being made. Then comes the drivers side...... lol

[SUX2BU99]

Here is an excellent link I found. Actually, on some automotive forum somewhere somebody said to check autozone for DIY links. I did and found the best info yet on doing rear drum brakes:
http://www.autozone.com/addVehicleId,1237304/initialAction,repairGuide/shopping/repairGuide.htm?pageId=0900c1528004c85c

If the link doesn't go straight to where it's supposed to, choose the truck you want, engine size of whatever, and then choose Brake Shoes under Drum Brakes to get the full info and diagram.


Question though, in my Haynes manual for my 03 Tahoe, it says to lubricate the friction areas on the backing plate with hi-temp grease to keep the shoes moving freely. The autozone link did not say this. Should I?

Oh, and I've touched the shoes with my bare hands. Do I need to clean them with Brake Kleen now?

[SUX2BU99]

Well I went out today while I had the chance and got a little tube of hi-temp thread sealant, hi-temp silicone brake system lube and a can of non-VOC brake cleaner.

[VileZambonie]

Just keep the linings free of grease. Lube the lands on the backing plate with either white lithium or moly lube. Just a small amount.

[SUX2BU99]

Cool, thanks. I'll spray off the shoe faces too since I was touching them with my bare hands just to be sure.

[VileZambonie]

spray a little on a rag and wipe them off once you have them all done and adjusted up.

[SUX2BU99]

Well I was successful last night in actually getting the entire passenger-side brake assembly reassembled!  I'm sure the drivers side will go way faster now. I had one partial snag though. There is a spring that goes vertically from the parking brake level up to this little 3-side thing that the actuator rod/link connects too. The Autozone instructions didn't reference it, nor did their blow-up diagram but it's in the pictures.  I couldn't get the lower hook entirely seated into the hole. It popped out on me a few times but this last time it held. It's not as secured as it was before though.

Here it is originally. It's the spring that's just to the right of the hold-down spring

Here is a shot looking up. See how nicely seated the hook is into the hole?

And here it is after reassembly. The hook isn't going into the hole very well and it can't really rotate either. Is this thing even needed?

[ccz145a]

That spring will keep the adjuster in position to adjust the brakes when you tap the brakes in reverse. You need it.

It is not in there right. Put it in the bottom hole first oriented just as it is with the pigtail end seated correctly (further in the hole), then get a long screwdriver or your spring install tool against the tang where it will finally go and lift. The spring should just snap in place.

[SUX2BU99]

Okay, I'll try that then. The 3-sided thingamabob was pressing up right against the shoe so that's why I didn't do it in that order but I'll try it out again and hopefully it will work right for me.