JHZR2
Staff member
I did my first drum brake service today. If I never do one ever again, I’d be most pleased.
The wheel cylinders were starting to weep, and there’s a well known upgrade using Chevy 1-ton cylinders with much more area.
What a pain. When I pulled the drum, which might well be the original with almost 438k miles, I found cracked shoes.
I was doing this offsite, and didn’t have good tools. Finally I bit the bullet, and got a pair of drum brake pliers from Autozone for $11. On brakes this large, the springs are strong, and it was next to impossible to do it any other way safely. Even with vice grips.
I used ceramic lube in these in most places. I used corrosion x in the adjuster star wheel threads.
At one point before I got the pliers, I was very close to driving down the road with no drum, and just drop the truck off at the shop to have a pro do it. I’m very grateful to @The Critic for walking me through some things from 2865 miles away.
I didn’t fully adjust and bleed them yet, so my pedal is soft and I have a warning light that seems to be related to excess pedal travel. But hopefully that can be fixed tomorrow!
The wheel cylinders were starting to weep, and there’s a well known upgrade using Chevy 1-ton cylinders with much more area.
What a pain. When I pulled the drum, which might well be the original with almost 438k miles, I found cracked shoes.
I was doing this offsite, and didn’t have good tools. Finally I bit the bullet, and got a pair of drum brake pliers from Autozone for $11. On brakes this large, the springs are strong, and it was next to impossible to do it any other way safely. Even with vice grips.
I used ceramic lube in these in most places. I used corrosion x in the adjuster star wheel threads.
At one point before I got the pliers, I was very close to driving down the road with no drum, and just drop the truck off at the shop to have a pro do it. I’m very grateful to @The Critic for walking me through some things from 2865 miles away.
I didn’t fully adjust and bleed them yet, so my pedal is soft and I have a warning light that seems to be related to excess pedal travel. But hopefully that can be fixed tomorrow!