Rear brakes, what am I doing wrong?

[Brennan O]

Not sure what's going on here. I am installing new rear brake shoes, bearings, cylinders, and drums b/c the old stuff was crazy rusty and all locked up.

The drum is too small? I can get them on with some force, but then the shoes are touching the drums and don't allow them to turn.

I don't have the parking brake actuator gear installed, it was totally rusted and not moving(it's soaking in a bucket of PB blaster). And my parking brake is rusted through.

What am I doing wrong? The wheel cylinders are all the way in and the shoes are seated properly. Rear brake line not installed yet as I am making a new one, old was crazy rusty.

Stock Festiva.

Are there different sized diameter drums and pads? I have bendix drums PDR0507, monroe shoes BX595, Prenco cylinders, 9299099, and centric bearings. All parts were ordered from rock auto. I also used new hardware and seals.

Halp!

[Bert]

The e-brake is a pivot and articulating arrangement inside the drum. Have you set it at it's 'least spread' setting? These parts are typically seized and require freeing up in a vice with a small hammer and pair of pliers. There are 2 pivot points. Once the brakes are assembled and the drum is on the e-brake becomes self-adjusting when you apply the handbrake.

[shadetree]

Sounds like we need a picture . But if I understand completely then you must have gotten brakes for an aspire.

[WmWatt]

Guessing here but the rear brakes are adjustable. You probably already know but I think there is an adjusting wheel. Try turning?

[Bert]

Guessing here but the rear brakes are adjustable. You probably already know but I think there is an adjusting wheel. Try turning?

I keep thinking 'star wheel' like on most cars but Festys don't have those and use the rear most pivot on the e-brake; a finely toothed and eccentric gizmo that adjusts/determines the resting location of the shoes.

[Fordverde]

0drumbrake.jpgprideRRbrakediag001-1.jpg

Pieces 18&19(adjuster is what you need to make sure are free and well lubricated.

brakes 1.jpg

[lessersivad]

Not sure what's going on here. I am installing new rear brake shoes, bearings, cylinders, and drums b/c the old stuff was crazy rusty and all locked up.

The drum is too small? I can get them on with some force, but then the shoes are touching the drums and don't allow them to turn.

I don't have the parking brake actuator gear installed, it was totally rusted and not moving(it's soaking in a bucket of PB blaster). And my parking brake is rusted through.

What am I doing wrong? The wheel cylinders are all the way in and the shoes are seated properly. Rear brake line not installed yet as I am making a new one, old was crazy rusty.

Stock Festiva.

Are there different sized diameter drums and pads? I have bendix drums PDR0507, monroe shoes BX595, Prenco cylinders, 9299099, and centric bearings. All parts were ordered from rock auto. I also used new hardware and seals.

Halp!

From the numbers you gave it looks like you have the correct parts. Providing they weren't boxed wrong.

Have you tried installing the outer wheel bearings after you managed to get the drums on?

I've have a few cars where this has happened. Only after I installed the outer wheel bearing did everything get aligned so the drum would spin freely.

Just a thought.

[bravekozak]

Get an Aspire rear end and start over. You will be so amazed at the stopping power, you will want to change to the Aspire front end too! Think safety first. The Festiva braking system is undersized.

[SoCalZ28]

It's possible the drums are from a bad batch. I once got rotors, the cheepy pep boys special (made in China), after an hour of checking every possibility, I discovered the rotors were not machined/aligned correctly from the factory. So the disc was off center in the caliper causing drag and over extend the slide pins. Message here is, stick with USA parts if they're available.

[navdoc101]

He said he does Not have the parking brake actuator installed yet. They are soaking in PB Blaster to loosen them up.
Could that be the problem?
Maybe he needs to have them installed & set at "least spread" ?

[Pu241]

I'm sure they wouldn't work correctly without the actuator/adjuster installed, but wouldn't think it would keep the drum from being installed.

Is it possible the brake shoes are installed upside down.
Meaning the pivot point end of the shoe is up at the wheel cylinder and vice versa?

I'm with Shadetree on this, a pic would be very useful.

[Brennan O]

Sorry for the delay in response. Haven't had a second to touch the car until this afternoon.

I got it sorted.

It was the cylinders. They were too tall so I took a grinder to the top(towards the sky when installed) for like 10 seconds and BAM the drums went right on and work like a charm.

I'm keeping this one stock until I need new tires. Then I'll aspire swap. I'm slowly accumulating those parts.

Thanks for the help and ideas of what it could be!!

[Movin]

Well, thats one way to relieve the parts manufacturer and the supplier of any and all liability. I would get the correct cylinders or do your aspire swap quickly. Be confident in what you did, the way you described it ?? Of course i get saif & osha inspections yearly and have a state lawyer watching liability on every move. And I love what I do..weird.
Be safe.

[Brennan O]

Yeah I'm confident in the fix, but then again I've been wrenching on mopeds for the last 10 years and you have to 'fix' every replacement and aftermarket part to make it fit correctly. So maybe my perspective is skewed. I'd rather make the parts I have work than send them back and wait for replacements.

There was like .5mm too much metal to clear the drum, nothing I'm worried about. I checked out the fluid passage and there is still TONS of room, I'm in no danger of the part failing b/c of the shaving.

I'll be taking the brakes apart again when I free up the adjusters, so there will be plenty of time to inspect everything over the weekend.

Will be swapping as soon as I gather all the parts. Aspires are sorta hard to find in junkyards round my parts.