Ok im at a loss here. I measured the old brakes and they match the new. They look and measure the same. The mounting surface on the drum measured 2".25 across on the rear as well as the brake shoes. There was a set of 12"x2" brakes in the box also so i'm assuming they were for the front? unless they got it totally screwed up and the fronts and backs. i have pictures but having trouble connecting the camera to the cpu. It looks as if they rest or line up just along that ridge in the backing plate. I checked to see if they were backed out to far and they werent. In fact the adjusting screw was in a decent amount. Im totally lost and towing this thing is getting expensive If you gentlemen still suspect the brakes I'm going to get a second opinion anyway but it will have to wait till monday. This gentleman is going to check out the differential and bearings on monday if i don't have this issue solved by fri. Thanks again
The front brake shoes are 1/4" (.25) wider than the rears. Put the fronts on the rear by mistake and this 1/4" extra width is enough to lock them up when the lugs are tightened.......just as Doc suggested. If the rear brake shoes measure 2.25" wide (and from your last post they do) they are incorrect. Rears are 2" wide and fronts are 2.25". The drum diameters are the same at 12"
This is great!!! Probably something I can handle without having anything towed again since the drums come right off now. Only it feels like 25 degrees today in philly and about time I get off it'll be colder. Thank you. Jamiel
If you need to move the car inside to work on it just put some flat washers between the drum and the axle, whatever it takes to make them roll when the wheels are bolted on and move the car inside. Bill
I'm confused. Will ALL the wheels turn freely if the car is off the ground? If not, then how about if the wheels are off and just the drums are on? Like I mentioned earlier, if right now the priority is just getting the car in the garage, remove the brake hardware from the offending wheel and push the car into the garage. Have some help so you can manually stop the car before hitting the wall. Measure the distance from the center of the front wheel to the front of the car. Then lay a piece of 2X4 on the garage floor just a little farther from the end wall than the length you just measured. That way if you can't stop the car somehow, the 2X4 will. Once in the garage, you will have all the time you need to try all these ideas and find your problem.
Yes the drums will turn as long as the lug nuts are not tightened. Let me ask you do you think i should let the mechanic fix his mistake? He offered to pay all towing fees to his location fix them and have the car back the same day. I would like to tackle this myself but i also feel as if he should correct his mistake since he was paid to do a job..
The drums need to be checked for flatness on the mounting flange, also...if they are distorted because of installation over the wrong shoes you could have new problems even after the shoes are corrected. Devon
