mikekaz1 Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 how hot should drum brakes get? or whats normal temp? after a short drive (maybe 2 miles) my drivers rear is about 70 degrees and my passenger rear is about 170 degrees. (i used a temp gun to find these) is 70 too low (drivers side not working)? or is 170 just high (passenger side dragging)? i took the passenger drum off and inspected everything... everything looked decent and even wear. but i did notice the rear pad (left looking at the hub) wasnt moving much compared to the right pad when brakes were pressed but could possibly be just because physics said the front was easier to move first. havent looked at the drivers rear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 I never checked with a thermometer, but they should not be too hot to be uncomfortable to the touch after a short drive. And they should be pretty much the same temperature. You have a shoe dragging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Your passenger side may be dragging (have you tried spinning the drum and checking the resistance? - there shouldn't be very much) and your driver's side may not even be working at all (you didn't specify what scale that 70 degrees is measured in. If it's Fahrenheit that brake probably isn't working at all) Are both sides assembled correctly? One common problem is the small cable going from the top "crown" piece down to the adjuster lever - it has to wrap around the round half-circle shaped guide and not be tucked under it (and present - it was missing on both sides when I got my truck). Like so: This cable either being improperly installed or missing will cause the adjuster to not work correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Another common problem is a parking brake cable getting rusted up, such that it doesn't fully release the brakes on one side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 I had a similar issue with my drum brakes...found out that my wheel cylinder wasn't engaging the pads to the drum.... No leaks or anything just stopped working.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikekaz1 Posted September 4, 2015 Author Share Posted September 4, 2015 I'm american its in Fahrenheit. And i think that cables actually broken on the passenger side. I adjusted the brake in because it was dragging a lot. I may of not done it enough? As you can turn the drum by fairly easily byhand. But its kinda stiff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 I'm american its in Fahrenheit. And i think that cables actually broken on the passenger side. I adjusted the brake in because it was dragging a lot. I may of not done it enough? As you can turn the drum by fairly easily byhand. But its kinda stiff It can be difficult to detect dragging in the rear brakes because you're spinning the differential when you turn the drum. I find it's easier with both rear wheels off the ground and both tires off, that way you're only turning the opposite brake drum, not an entire tire and wheel. Ideally, the brakes should be adjusted out to the point where you just BARELY begin to hear a slight (I did say "SLIGHT") bit of drag noise when you turn the drum. The problem is, the brakes are designed to be adjusted with the parking brake cable retracted. If the parking brake cable is rusted and can't retract, you can't adjust your brakes. Yes, you can turn the star wheel and you can get the shoes to pull in -- but the brakes won't work right, because the parking brake cable has everything screwed up. If the parking brake cable is rusted or broken, either replace it (preferable) or remove it temporarily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikekaz1 Posted September 5, 2015 Author Share Posted September 5, 2015 My e brake doesn't work. It ends at the center adjuster no interior cable. I honestly plan on just removing it completely. I just bought a rear brake shoe and hardware set from Napa. Roughly $30 can't beat it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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