Teal9550

I'm working on a 97s rear brakes, it came to me with a broken trailing left brake shoe presumably caused by leaking rear axle seal. I replaced both axle seals and bearings replace the shoes and all the hardware including the Adjusters. Problem is no matter what I do I cannot get the brake drum back on I also replaced the two rear parking brake cables because one was rusted and not moving after replacing all that I still seem to have the same issue with the drums.






Left hand side

danfan

From your photo, it looks like the front shoe is not seated. The top should be tight against the post. Are your wheel cylinder pins fully seated? You may have a bad wheel cylinder.

Teal9550

The wheel cylinders on both sides to move in and out when I step on the brake pedal with the drum off I can watch them do that it's about the only thing that I haven't replaced so far so it could be that I suppose. It really seems to be that the brake shoes or a little offset to one side I don't have equal distance both sides from the brake shoes to the backing plate

danfan

Hard to tell from the photo, but your front shoe is not seated. Looks like something is hanging it up.

Feathermerchant

Look for pics and diagrams of the rear brakes for your model truck. Some of those brake parts can be installed backwards or upside down preventing the brakes from operating properly. The brake shoes should be in full contact with the wheel cylinders.
It looks like it is but be sure your adjuster is fully retracted.

white89gt

I don't know if this helps at all, but I snapped some pics of mine when I did them a couple years ago.

Teal9550

The only thing that I can think of is I might have a defective set of brake shoes I can move the wheel cylinders in and out I am a hundred percent sure that I've got it put together correctly I've taken it apart and put it together several times so my next thing is to go back to O'Reilly's and swap out the shoes and see if that does anything

white89gt

Your whole setup is sitting skiwampus. I had to keep fidgeting with mine to get it to all line up correctly. If you look in your top photo, the left shoe is sitting too high. Get a big flat head screwdriver and see if you can get it to move down some. I think your part placement looks correct, it's just a matter of getting it adjusted.

Jbrew

Here's a pick, - old old pic, might help.

Feathermerchant

Looks like the top of the left hand shoe is too high.