i searched, i failed. I need to get the drum back on but the shoes are too far out and the drum won't fit. I'm sure that i forgot some simple trick but I just can't get them in close enough to fit the drum over them. even busted out a big pipe clamp to try to pull them back together. I need to get the drum back on ASAP so I can get back to my house. any suggestions help, thanks.

 

Both sides?

Look at the other one to figure out what is wrong.

Did you replace the shoes?

Is both pistons in the cylinder in?

What Year?

Did you shorten the adjuster at the bottom?

 

Back off the adjuster. Or, if it's a 79, back off the adjusters. You will either have a self adjuster located just below the wheel cyl, that needs to be backed off, or a pair of ecentrics at the bottom of the shoes.
If you replaced the shoes, they are thicker than the old shoes. Therefore, the adjuster(s) must be turned back in, to allow the drum to fit.

 

its an 85 and yes, i did replace the shoes. is the adjuster inside the drum or on the back? guess I will go try to find it and play with it to see which way does the trick, thanks. I was pritty sure that i had put everything back together right but was starting to worry when the drum wasn't going back on.

 

The adjuster is that bar that goes between the shoes, just below the wheel cyl. You did notice the star wheel and threads on it, right? You need to pull that back out, and clean it up real well. Them, apply a light film of grease to the threads, and run it in to where there is 1/2 inch or less of threads left showing. This will be close to where it will need to be, but may need to adjusted one way or the other, depending on drum wear.
Make sure it threads in/out easily before re-installing it, and use the grease on threads so it does not freeze up later.

 

just went to look and I can't find the adjuster as it is described in the manual. on the 85 if does the "parking break strut" (the two peice bold ish thing right under the piston) double as the adjuster?

 

The adjuster is the big threaded bar that goes at the top of your brake shoes and pushes them apart. You will have to adjust them close enough together so that you can slip the drum back on. After you get the drum back on I think there is a rubber plug on the back side of the brakes that you can remove. After you take the plug out you can use a screwdriver to spread the shoes back apart. Adjust them as far out as possible without having them drag.

Is this right guys or am I thinking of a different car that I worked on in the past???

 

ok, thats what I was thinking. thanks for the help Rogue and Hades. that should get me through

 

One more thing, if you are replacing both sides, only remove one adjuster at a time. They are different, and if installed on the wrong side, they will continually back the shoes off, rather than keep them adjusted correctly.

 

Sounds right, Adjuser is at the bottom of everything? Been 2 years sence I had a set off to look at them.

 

On 79 models, there are 2 ecentrics at the bottom of the backing plate. 81-85 uses the adjuster bar, but it is not at the bottom like many US cars, It is incorperated into the top bar, just below the WC.
I don't know which style the 80 uses, it could be either one.

 

got everything put back together on the drivers side and moved on to the right side. looks like the wheel cylinder is busted (leaking out one side). will driving in a busted WC until I can order a new one cause any problems, other than that wheel potentaly not breaking?
also, got the drums resurficed at NAPA for a bargen $13. they were supposed to be $8 each but the guy who rang me up couldn't read the sales ticket so they undercharged.
got everything put back together for a test and now it looks like the breaks work to some degree, but the parking break has no effect.

this is turning into such a pain i might have to take some pictures and write up a little howto on changing breaks

 

You should be okay for a few days, just go easy on it. Check with www.rockauto.com for a replacement cylinder. After you replace it, you will need to bleed the braking system.

 

You might consider a cylinder rebuild kit.. My local Autozone had one. It replaces all the rubber parts and replaces the spring. It was pretty cheap and has been holding for a year or so now.