11" brake problems

I have this weird problem with my 11" front brakes. I got some new wheel cylinders and new brake shoes. I've heard of people having problems with new shoes. Both of my front wheels are locked up. I backed the adjusters all the way back. The drums went on snug. Do I have to make any modifications to the shoes? I swear I read a post about someone grinding the shoes down. I didn't want to try it until I was 100% sure.

Also, does the bigger shoe go to the rear of the brake assembly (I think it does) and is there a right and a left?

 

Are these Bendix or Lockheed style?

 

I think these are lockheed. They have self adjusters. Bendix use the cam style, right?

 

Just the opposite. Lockheed's use the cams.

If you have Bendix check the ends of the friction material on the shoes. If they are sharp-edged take a file and put a chamfer on the ends. Lots of times a sharp edge on the friction material will catch the drum surface and self apply the brakes causing them to lock up.

The shoe with the longer friction material is the secondary shoe and goes on the rear. The shorter goes to the front of the vehicle.

 

30 years ago, it was common to grind the shoes to fit the diameter of the drum ("arcing" the shoes). Apparently nobody does it anymore. The shop I took the CJ-6s drums to said that new shoes don't need it.

If you get the shoes close to adjusted, the self-adjusters will take up the remaining slack. Just back up and apply the brakes to activate the adjusters. Several easy repetitions should be enough.

 

Yes, the edges are sharp. I'll try the chamfering. Thanks guys for the help.

 

Yeah Timgr, it used to be common. I wish we could still do it on light vehicles. We had the equipment to do it at work years ago. We were forced to get rid of it due to health concerns from the asbestos. We sold the equipment to a woodworker. Was sad to see it go.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

We had the equipment to "arc" the shoes in my high school auto shop.

 

i just shortened the female part of my adjusters to fit the new shoes that i sourced from a 2000 ish chev van had some serious friction mtl on em so i used em on the old drums got 4 new drums hardware kits, adjusters and factory shoes for next time...if you grind em wear a GOOD mask only got one set o lungs