<VV> Brake question

[Louis C. Armer, Jr.]

Hey Steve, Look for my comments and suggestions in caps in your text.

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At 06:00 PM 9/25/04 -0500, you wrote:
>OK...next question.  I just reinstalled the brakes on the right rear
>wheel after replacing the hub assembly.  It has been over a decade since
>I have done drum brakes and I had to keep going back to the dirver's side
>to see where all the springs went, etc.  From what I can tell it is all
>correct (I did end up with a small washer and a little metal
>piece...round and looks kind of like a miniature oil funnel...big at the
>top and flat but curving out in the middle to a small hole...the whole
>thing is about the same diameter as the little spring that holds the
>brake shoes on).
WHAT YOU HAVE DESCRIBED IS THE SPRING RETAINER AND IT FITS
ON THE SHOE RETAINING SPRING. YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD TWO OF THESE
THAT WERE ON THE RETAINING SPRING FOR EACH SHOE. THE SMALL WASHER
YOU MENTION IS SUPPOSED TO BE AGAINST THE SHOE BEFORE YOU PUT THE
RETAINING SPRING ON. THE WASHER IS FOR THE LEADING SHOE.


>  Here's the rub: when I tried to put the drum back on
>over the shoes it was super tight and off center..had to bang it around
>to get it centered but the shoes were so tight on the drum that it would
>only spin with great effort.

THIS IS A RECENT POST OF MINE WHICH MAY BE APPLICABLE TO YOUR
PROBLEM WITH THE DRUM

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Sometimes brake pulling happens because all springs are
not replaced with new ones. Spring fatique can cause all sorts
of problems. Another area often overlooked is abnormal wear on
the backing plate pad's face area which over time can become
grooved by wear from the side of the brake linings metal shoe plate.
      This can and does happen when the pad area is overlooked
and not greased which causes friction and resistance as the
metal backing plate for the brake lining moves across the backing plate pads.
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IF YOU HAVE APPRECIABLE GROOVING OR WEAR ON THE BACKING PLATE
PADS IT MAKES CENTERING OF THE SHOES VERY DIFFICULT

>  I tried spinning the little spinner thing
>at the bottom to make more room, but it is all the way in and no luck.  I
>read the shop manual, but as usual for me there is a big gap between what
>I read and what I can do (unless there are pictures :).  Any wisdom for a
>drum brake rookie?
  IF YOU WERE ABLE TO GET THE DRUM BACK ON AND FULLY OVER THE NEW
SHOES.........REMEMBER YOU NEED TO TAP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SET ALL THE
NEW SHOES YOU HAVE INSTALLED........THIS CENTERS THEM AND OFTEN REDUCES
THE RESISTANCE YOU ENCOUNTERED FROM OFF CENTER SHOES.


>I haven't tracked down the short in w/the clutch cable yet...but will
>hopefully get to dig into that tomorrow.  I'm all in for today.
>
>Steve Mizel
>CORSA
>Show Me CC
>65 Corsa Vert 140/4
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Chuck Armer

Corvair Atlanta, BOD
CORSA MEMBER
CORSA Tri-Membership Chairman
http://carmerjr.home.mindspring.com/