Drum brake help

[RedJeepster1]

I have a question about the drum brakes on Emily’s XJ. I took them apart last week to figure out why they weren’t working too well and found a leaky seal, so I replaced both wheel bearings and seals and then had to replace the brakes due to everything being soaked in oil. I had a used but basically new set under the bench, so I decided to use those. As you can see, all the parts were almost new. They were take offs from someone else’s Jeep I worked on. He had just bought it and wanted all new brakes, didn’t care that the rear was almost new already.

My question is regarding how the brakes are now acting. The drivers side is working great. Adjusted until it started to drag and it works fine. Passenger side drags on half and doesn’t on the other. If I adjust more it just gets stuck and then free spins. Same spots every rotation. When driving and I hit the brakes I can feel and hear it coming in and out. Working and then not working. What would cause that? Maybe that wheel cylinder isn’t working and it’s staying loose in there when I hit the brakes? I didn’t test that each was working. I should have… but didn’t expect to have issues. Only did the brakes because they were soaked with oil.

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[JohnyPro]

Could the drum be egged out? Just a curious out, as im unfamiliar with drums brakes.

 

[gorilla_skater]

Can you post a pic of the passenger side? Is the short shoe the one closest to the from like the drivers side pic shows?

 

[YJScrounge]

Drive it around and then re-adjust. Let the shoes settle in and align/center. Drums can be a bit of a hassle. Maybe adjust the problem side to a slightly heavier drag and let it cut in.

 

[TJlongworth]

Can you post a pic of the passenger side? Is the short shoe the one closest to the from like the drivers side pic shows?

Im going to agree with rey, I would guess the shoes are slightly different, or the shoe radius is different than the drum diameter, i have had this issue before where the shoes were too thick and only touching on the edges, and when you hit the brakes the shoes would wedge tight in the drum

 

[BC Miller]

Don't forget to lube the edge of the shoes where they rub against the backing plate. 

 

[RedJeepster1]

Can you post a pic of the passenger side? Is the short shoe the one closest to the from like the drivers side pic shows?

I don’t have a pic of the passenger side, but it is a mirror on the drivers side. The self adjustor cable in the picture is to the rear of the vehicle.

And I did live the backing plate where the shoe makes contact.

Last nights adjustment was post driving for a day. My first thought was somehow the drum is egg shaped. It would cause what I would call a pulsing brake scenario, but also if I had an egg shaped drum, I would think I would feel that in the brake pedal. Although I can feel and hear the show grabbing and letting go in the vehicle, I have none of that feedback into the brake pedal. I’ll pull the passenger wheel back off after work today and take a picture.

The rear shoe is the one not wearing evenly. It’s wearing towards the top, but not at the bottom.

Just talked to Emily and she said it’s still doing the same today but not as bad. Maybe like Pat said I just need to keep adjusting and add some more drag to the system.


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[TJlongworth]

The passenger side drum on my truck is out of round, and my solution was to cut out the self adjuster, what would happen in that situation is the shoes would rock causing the self adjuster to tighten to the point that wheel would drag. I never felt it in the pedal

 

[Horn]

I’ve had a similar issue with the rear drums in the XJ.  I can’t get them adjusted so they are smooth.  Always have a tight spot as you rotate the tire.  I’ve been assuning it’s an out of round drum.  Can’t feel it in the pedal and still brakes ok so I haven’t spent the money to see since it’s not really causing a problem.  But it’s not really right either.