LUVTruck.com

Hey all,
now I am working on the rear brakes ('79). I took off the wheel, took out the retaining screw (just one per wheel, right?) and I can't get the drum cover off. I took off the inch long rubber plug thing off the back of the drum and there is the adjuster screw (it looks like a gear with teeth). Which way do I turn it to retract the shoe?

I turned it all the way down (in other words, clockwise, if you are looking towards the front of the truck from the rear) and it felt as though the brakes were applied/ it got real tight. The cover still would not come off. I turned it all the way up (counterclockwise), and it felt loose, but still could not get the cover off.

Also, I believe the parking brake is off. I released it and the cable is slack going into the drum.

any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Drum brakes can sometimes really be a PITA.

As drums wear...they usually develop a lip on their inner edges from the shoes grinding away material from the inside surface of the drum that they press on to do their intended job.

Once you back the brakes off untill they are as loose as you can get them...you still have to work the lip over the shoes most of the time just to get them off.

Just be careful that what ever method that you use (prying, etc.) to do that doesn't bend, break, or distort the drums or they might end up worthless and may have to be replaced.

You might also want to check them for minimum thickness which should be stamped on them on the back side in the center...and make sure that there is room for more loss of thickness from future wear plus the minimum allowable thickness left...and that they aren't scarred, damaged, or soaked with brake fluid before you put them back on.

Otherwise..you may need to replace them.

Good luck...I hope that helped ya!

thanks tumwatertaz,
Here is a little more info. The rear drivers side brake is non functioning according to the inspection station. The passenger side was working OK. I figure the shoes and drums have never been replaced before and are severely worn. I have new shoes, maybe I should just go and get new drums too. I know also that there is a leak in the driver side wheel cylinder.

Since my last post, I tried the other back wheel (passenger side). The adjuster screw seems like it is a ratcheting type mechanism. I turned it with a flathead as tight as I could get it (clockwise). Was that the correct thing to do? I am thinking that that retracted the shoes, but I still can't get the cover off.


The drivers side adjuster screw was very loose. I also saw a thin cable near the screw and it is slack and just lying there under the screw. I am thinking maybe something inside the drum became unhitched or broke. I can't see well in there until I get the cover off.

If thet haven't been off before, the drum may have rusted to the lip of the axle where the drum slips over.

_________________
If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

thats what i was thinking... was that way on my sons and we took a hammer to lightly all the way around the edge to break up some rust and they came right off

_________________
My old but now gone Luv...

A word of advice, If you spray any penetrating oil on it, don't drive it until thr drums come off.

_________________
If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

You all may be right, it may be rusted on there, though I have pounded all around on them pretty hard and they haven't budged at all.

The wheel was able to turn just a little bit back and forth before I turned that adjuster screw. Now that I turned it till it couldn't be turned anymore, the hub don't turn at all. It feels like the brake is on (and turning the adjuster screw did it).

That dust cover thing is in the way for prying the drum off too.

Thanks for the tip about the penetrating oil!

I still don't quite understand that adjuster screw. It is supposed to retract the brake shoes, but it feels like it did the opposite.

Good point you guys...that's the other PITA about drums...the fact that they center of the darn drum always rusts to the center of the axle ends.

I personally use a small steel wire wheel on a die-grinder to try and clean that stuff off all the way around it...then tap lightly with a big hammer to try and break the rust loose so the darn things will come off.

They are sure never much fun to deal with....but it's even worse if you just ignore the problem and don't fix them...lol

The adjuster is to adjust both ways - if it locked up the direction you turned it, start turning the other way and it should free up... It's designed to be used to set initial brake travel when installing new shoes, and to take up excess slack as the shoes wear.

I had the same problem. tried for several years to get them off. Finally borrowed a large puller from auto parts house. Hooked over drum and cranked it down. Then I took hot wrench (acetylene torch)
and heated the drum around axel flange. after a minute or two the drum popped off. I don't think they had ever been off.

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1980 Luv 4X4
another 1980 luv 4x4

thanks for all your input! I am gonna work some more on her tomorrow. I think I understand the innards a lot better now and how to work that adjuster screw (thanks stephenhj). It sounds like tomorrow will have a lot of pb blaster, hammerin', wire wheels, and a blowtorch. I checked at Auto Zone about a puller, but they didn't have one that big. Do you remember where you got yours ellets?

Get some POB Blaster, best thing there is for rust. Spray it on the hub, axle area. Wait over night if you can. I have never been able to tap lighty Put a long screwdriver behind the drum where you can pry out on the drum. Get a BFH and whack the drum around the hub, and on the hub it self. You can break a drum, but I never have. Use a block of wood to spread the impact over a greater area if you want. Turn the drum after every few wacks.

If this wont work a torch may be the only way. You may need to do the same thing even with a puller, just need a smaller hammer.

HTH

Richard.

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

thanks for the suggestions you guys, it worked! I got the drivers side drum off with a bit of PB blaster and a big hammer.
Before:



I hit it pretty hard several times and it knocked it loose. I then pried it off with a big screwdriver and found this:



close up!:



here is the drum finally off!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (notice that it is scored on the inside):



here is a video I took before I started mucking around in the mess:



So, I knew that this wheel was not braking at all (from the inspection station) and I knew that the wheel cylinder was leaking (It has since I got the truck in 2003). Turns out that all that brake fluid that was leaking made it real slippery in there and therefore no friction and no brakes! it finally made sense when it was all apart!

Well, I noticed that something was broken in there and it turned out to be the self adjusting brake cable:



If any of you has one of these that they don't need, I can really use it. Let me know how much you want for it. The parts store didn't have it and I haven't had any luck finding it online.

I took everything out and cleaned it real good:



and then it got dark out. I am gonna work more on it tomorrow.

Turns out that the brake adjuster wheel was frozen shut on this wheel, I need to get it undone. Here is a pic of the adjuster wheel on the passenger side through the hole (sorry it is blurry, hard to focus in there).



That is tomorrows project too. The adjuster wheel turned one way but not back (ratcheted tight). At this point the brakes are applied as tight as they can get, and I can't get them loose. I realize now that I was tightening the brakes by turning it the direction I did. It seems that there is a part holding the wheel in place that I need to release (or get the spring off the part).

Hey Leroy's_LUV, thanks for the tutorial about using photobucket, it is great! Fullaluv, you inspired me to take and post photos. Rock on!

_________________
If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

That's a good pic of the star wheel thru the backing plate. All drum type brakes need to have the adjuster lever pushed out of the way as to back off the adjustment. You need both hands to do it.

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Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

I am having a hard time getting that adjuster lever out of the way to back off the star wheel. I got one of those brake adjuster tools and it seems like all you have to do is shove it in under the star wheel cylinder and that should move the adjuster lever out of the way. But it doesn't seem to be working. The wheel still will not turn. I tried a long screwdriver too instead of the tool. The wheel turned OK going out, so I think the threads are clean and it should turn easily once the pressure is off from the adjuster lever. Any tips?

Did the parts you bought from me fix it up?

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

Hey Dottie, I saw your pics on the brake work you're doing, and I hope you get it all ship shape. It's important to be able to stop that vehicle as we all know, and a LUV especially for the vintage value. You ought to know that by posting a video you connect everyone to your album, so we know you are in dire need of a haircut and a shave!!! LOL Good for you to stop and take the photos to benefit everyone and make surfing this site that much more fun for all the LUV enthusiasts.

Why not add your "On top of the engine" photo to the "Faces of LUV" thread? It's in the Lounge.

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'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.

hey all!
sorry I haven't posted in a while. I got a job that is taking most of my daylight time now, and have not had a chance to finish up my brakes yet (she is parked 30 minutes away). LUVRV8, thanks so much again for the parts, they are just what I needed!!! I finally got the other drum off last week after banging the star adjustment wheel pretty hard with a screwdriver and hammer. It had siezed up and would not turn. When I finally got it apart, I saw that there was old grease in there that has gotten gummy. Anyway, I took a lot more photos (again, thanks for the inspiration to document my work Fullaluv!, I figure it will help the next person who hasn't seen the inside of a rear brake drum (I hadn't until now)), and will post them as soon as I have some free time. I will also post my hippie photo to the Faces of Luv forum in the lounge It was taken last year when I was doing the head gasket work. I'll post a recent pic too when I have a chance. Rock on all y'all!!!!

OK!
still crazy busy, but I have an update. I was able to put back together the passenger side brake components and put the drum on with just a little clearance between drum and shoes. These are brand new shoes and drum. I put together the drivers side brake components (thanks again LUVRV8!) and tried to put the drum on and it wouldn't fit over the shoes (again, new drum and shoes). It only misses by 1/8 of an inch or so. I am not sure what is wrong. I had taken everything apart and cleaned all the components. I backed off the star adjustment wheel so that it is as small as possible. The whole brake apparatus (all the springs, shoes, adjustment wheel, etc...) shift around depending on how you push the parts, but I can't get them to compress to fit within the drum. I tried for three hours to monkey them around to fit, took it all apart again, and still have the problem. I have pictures I'll post later, I am at work now. Anyone have any idea what might be wrong? The other side fit together fine. The shoes are from ebay, but look to be correct. The drum is new from Advance Auto Parts.