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R Slaughter | profile | all galleries >> Drum brake assembly tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Drum brake assembly

Assembly sequence for a "typical" GM drum brake
1966 GM half-ton pickup (Delco Shown, Bendix similar)
The parts pile, excl. park lever and pushrods. NOTE: colors are random paints I had on hand. Not color-coded.
The parts pile, excl. park lever and pushrods. NOTE: colors are random paints I had on hand. Not "color-coded".		 Self adjuster (SA arm) group
Self adjuster (SA arm) group
Adjuster wheel group
Adjuster wheel group		 Where it all goes
Where it all goes
Park brake lever on the cable
Park brake lever on the cable		 Start here: lube park lever pin and wavy washer, install thru rear shoe, add the Jesus clip
Start here: lube park lever pin and wavy washer, install thru rear shoe, add the "Jesus clip"
Lube Starwheel shaft & threads with chassis grease or moly lube; thread the adjuster together but do not tighten
Lube Starwheel shaft & threads with chassis grease or moly lube; thread the adjuster together but do not tighten		 star wheel end goes toward rear shoe. NOTE! Left-hand threaded adjuster screw is for RIGHT (passenger) side brake
star wheel end goes toward rear shoe. NOTE! Left-hand threaded adjuster screw is for RIGHT (passenger) side brake
spread shoes over axle, set against backplate
spread shoes over axle, set against backplate		 put washer & cone spring on nail thru front shoe. Place pushrods in cylinder
put washer & cone spring on "nail" thru front shoe. Place pushrods in cylinder
place strut and spring between shoes. Note position! It is installed in this pic exactly as it is shown in the parts pile above
place strut and spring between shoes. Note position! It is installed in this pic exactly as it is shown in the parts pile above		 Lube contact areas on SA arm and pivot
Lube contact areas on SA arm and pivot
put guide on anchor. place SA arm with pivot on rear shoe with nail, tube washer & straight spring
put guide on anchor. place SA arm with pivot on rear shoe with nail, tube washer & straight spring		 Add actuator link, follow with overide spring from arm to pivot (next pic)
Add actuator link, follow with overide spring from arm to pivot (next pic)
Place return spring under SA arm. note placement of pivot and link
Place return spring under SA arm. note placement of pivot and link		 Press shoes against anchor. Install front shoe return spring to anchor.
Press shoes against anchor. Install front shoe return spring to anchor.
Install rear shoe spring to link as shown
Install rear shoe spring to link as shown

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Guest 28-Jan-2012 14:20
Thanks so much for taking your time and effort to help us all.
Bill 08-Jan-2012 18:16
Thanks for hosting this sequence. I am working on a '61 Greenbrier which shares brakes with the C10 series. I have upgraded to "self adjusting" by adding the SA arm but did not know how to assemble it until finding your page. Much better than my black & white assembly manual!
Terry 07-Jan-2012 05:07
I am installing rear drum replacement brakes on my 55 hot rod. I have disc on front. Your pictures and advice have been great. One comment, on all info I have read, the secondary brake(with longer pad) has been identified as being the rear shoe, with the shorter pad being the primary and being the front shoe. Your diagram indicates the opposite calling the shoe toward the front of the car as the secondary. Can you clear this up for me? I am about 90% done with first brake installation and having trouble with the springs not attaching to the shoes in a manner that they will hold in place. I brought an entire kit from Ecklers that provided all new springs but it is almost like the hook part of the spring is turned the wrong way and will not grab when I stretch the spring to anchor. Please help. Thank you, Terry Rankin
Guest 23-Dec-2011 04:53
Last person to work on my van brakes had them assembled wrong and they weren't self adjusting. SA assembly was on the wrong shoe !!!! The starwheel was contracting instead of expanding. Thanks a million for your info.
Guest 12-Nov-2011 16:51
Thank you so much for this thread. It has saved me and my dad a lot of time on figuring out how a previous owner put the brakes back together wrong.
Guest 10-Oct-2011 01:08
Thanx for this site man u saved me a huge headache
Daniel Rodela 09-Sep-2011 23:32
DOR
hey, hey, hey, we learn something every day. Thanks
Guest 14-Aug-2011 20:28
Squeak free for the first time in ten years. Thanks to this post. I'm very happy.
phillip 10-Aug-2011 17:16
i got a 07 silverado i changed the rear shoes on and they sqeel , what can i do?
Guest 03-Aug-2011 20:17
Man THANX!!! I can download images & zoom in. thank you for takin ur time to do ths.
Guest 12-Jul-2011 16:39
Thank you, very, very helpful, great job. This puts a repair manual to shame.
Jim 24-May-2011 14:54
Very Nice! Certainly helped me out.
Mike 07-Mar-2011 04:55
THANK YOU!!! WOW
Mike Hubbert 08-Feb-2011 00:42
These pictures are very helpful. Would you post pictures for the right rear assembly as well? Thanks
crysthian 01-Nov-2010 00:21
hello, I am a new owner of a 1969 c10 suburban, and I am replacing the rear brakes; but I am having trouble finding the right parts. I was wondering where was it that you bought that parts for your truck. I tried different autoparts( autozone, o'reilly and napa)
Edwin 24-Oct-2010 04:47
Working on a 1985 C10 "Silverado" and your diagram was very helpful and the only detailed description on the entire world wide web. Thanks! "CatchMe"
Tony McCoy 27-Sep-2010 02:17
i fprgot to mention it says here you were showing the assy. for mid to late 60s models. this assy is the same on a 1993 chevy conversion van as well so it covers many years as well
Tony McCoy 27-Sep-2010 02:14
I must say that is the best parts assy demastration i have seen you. I must thank you again and again , now if we only can get the repair books to be that descriptivelol, again great job it really helped me out
Guest 28-Aug-2010 03:49
Thanks a lot. I just tore down my 1972 C10 Rear Drum Brakes and was digging through the
Service Manual for info on reinstalling all the pieces. This will save me a lot of time.
Very well done.
Weldman 27-Aug-2010 17:14
Best layout and info available that I've ever come across.
Nicely done! THANKS!
JR 04-Jun-2010 00:45
Worked for my 1999 GMC Suburban 4x4 saved me time and money thx!
Jonathan 01-May-2010 19:01
this is more helpful than my 78 camaro Haynes manual, tried to read the instructions then tried to remove 2 parts and the whole assembly fell in my lap! talk about sorting through a jigsaw!LOL Thanks abunch!
Guest 20-Apr-2010 02:35
i would like to say this is an awesome post. the pics practically puts it together for you great job man
Guest 14-Apr-2010 21:37
I put everything together but did not remember which way the strut spring went on. All I can say is Thank you. My 1972 Chevy truck is one my Dad bought new and now I have it now and want to someday pass it on to my son. Thanks again!
juggalodad@tmail.com 31-Mar-2010 18:26
P.s. Thank you for showing the pictures for guys like me, I am rebuilding the whole rear end on my truck,and whould have been lost in this step. Thanks again
juggalodad@tmail.com 31-Mar-2010 18:23
Do anyone know any tricks to get your drum back over the brakes?? I have adjusted the screw adjuster all the way in and still cannot get it back on!! I've tried everything I could think of. Thanks
Guest 26-Mar-2010 20:40
Thanks much!! I had completed the job on one side of my 99 Suburban and found an extra spring on the floor. It wasn't obvious at all as to where it came from, but from viewing your pictures, I could see it belonged on the self adjuster. You saved me alot of time and having to disassemble the other side to have a reference!
Guest 12-Mar-2010 13:52
Thanks for posting this. Have a '69 Chevy C-10,and I would have been lost without these great instuctions.THANKS.
Guest 11-Mar-2010 23:19
same guest as the previous comment, just wanted to say the car i have is a 1970 PONTIAC GTO, just letting y'all know this in case you're doubtful if these pics would match a car similar to mine. again, AWESOME job with the pictorial.
Guest 11-Mar-2010 20:24
thank you for this. i put this together in a much quicker time than without these pictures. very good job mate.
Guest 08-Feb-2010 19:50
This is better than my 1967 Buick service manual. Thanks!!
Al 26-Dec-2009 22:14
I have always HATED doing drum brakes. These pictures made it easy! thank you so much.
Guest 18-Dec-2009 17:12
thank you very much this is what i was lokking for
jim 10-Dec-2009 17:55
Very helpful much better than anything I have in books
epcgto 08-Aug-2009 23:42
Thank you very much, this is perfect !!!!!
Guest 26-Jul-2009 04:58
Is this the same set up for a 3/4 ton Eaton with leafs?
Guest 03-Jun-2009 21:16
pull hard it comes easy
Guest 31-May-2009 23:28
thanks this is very helpful but i have a blown cylinder are their any tricks to replacing this? I cant seem to get it loose from the backing plate.
Robert 16-Apr-2009 22:53
Nearly identical to my 1999 Chevy Tahoe Z71 5.7 Type R (VIN #) truck. Really helps if you need a great step-by-step for reassembling drum brakes. Thanks for taking the time to take pics and lay it out so clearly.
John Henry 24-Jan-2009 01:17
Just what we needed, THANKS and keep up the good work
Guest 05-Sep-2008 21:57
Just what I needed. Thanks for taking the time. My regards!
Guest 05-Aug-2008 23:49
Great pics. Got it done. Bought a spring kit and it had other stuff you didn't show. I'll ask around about the extra stuff, but even if I have to redo it, I know how now. Thanks for taking the time to write up the instructions.
Don 27-Jun-2008 03:30
need to know how to do rear brakes on 2000 pontiac montana
only hardware is a C sping
tony 26-May-2008 00:46
Hey, does the automatic clicker arm always tend to be on the rear shoe. I am assembling a 71 camaro and thought the orig was on the front shoe. thanks, this is a very helpful posting.
Bear 06-May-2008 04:27
Just wanted to say that you are the man. Found these instructions through google search and it was exactly what I needed. Saved tons of time.
Guest 03-May-2008 20:51
Nice work. Thanks a bunch
John 27-Mar-2008 01:58
Awsome, well explained and the pics are great!! Thank You
wes 26-Mar-2008 03:08
you are the best! Thanks you saved me alot of time.
isaac 13-Mar-2008 15:17
thanks you are the greatest too many parts going in a small place but your pics stepped me right through it
Jack 25-Feb-2008 22:59
Could not be any easier. Thanks. Any other auto related topics?
Guest 24-Jan-2008 01:30
Pictures worked for my 97 suburban, thanks for the help
Guest 14-Jan-2008 19:52
I pray and you show up. Thanks so verrrry much.
Dave 22-Oct-2007 00:56
Thank you for an excellent pictorial assembly. It has really helped me a lot!
Guest 17-Sep-2007 19:15
Thanks for a superb pic-show. now I can get my brakes in order. Finally
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