Drum brake dragging

[8v-of-fury]

So here is the deal.

I had a bad leak in a wheel cylinder it trashed the shoes.. but that is ok as the shoes were worn right down to min levels. I had shoes/hardware, a cylinder and barely used cables on hand. The other side had a cylinder replaced within the year as well.

I cleaned up both drums with 40 grit, as well as the shoes to remove any glazing. I installed the wheel cylinder, then I bled both back cylinders. Installed new cables and left them unattached in the cabin. Adjusters cleaned, lubed up and set to there minimum setting.

Both drums are physically worn, they have slight ridges. In fact the issue drum was replaced in 2011 from a severe bearing failure.

Worn/used drum, worn/used shoes, adjuster adjusted.. still drags. Not enough to hang the car up, on the level ground I can move the car by blowing on it. lol But the drum is physically hot after driving, substantially more than the other side.

The e-brake cables are both loose in the cabin while they are off.. so they're not hung up either. Also they are brand new, and lubed as well.

Weird issue going on here.

[TylerDurden]

Got the nub on the wedge facing the right way?

[8v-of-fury]

Pretty sure, these were pre-assembled already from when I took them off the car they were used on.. which they worked fine on.

I really dunno, must just be a fitment issue.

[srgtlord]

I had a similar issue, brand new shoes and springs but it would still drag...... Im guessing the backing plate is bent......OR the areas where the shoes pivot are severely worn.

[bajacalal]

The obvious solution is a disc brake swap. 

The times I've seen this happen before on cars, it was the backing plate that had grooves worn into it by the shoes, or was bent or something like that. A dremel tool might help. Take a good look at all the parts with the drum off, and have somebody operate and release the handbrake and see what sticks.

[8v-of-fury]

I was half way on to a disk swap.. I should have too. DAMNIT.

Possible the backing is bent, would this not have affected the old shoes as well though? I dunno.

The shoes pivot area did not looks excessively worn or anything, its an odd one.

[RabbitJockey]

Possibly cause the old shoes were worn?  U could always just swap to mk3 drums.  Nice upgrade direct bolt on and even uses the Same wheel cyminders

[8v-of-fury]

I have mk3 backing plates/spindle/hardware/shoes/cylinders in my garage.. but drums are $55 a piece!

[bajacalal]

I was half way on to a disk swap.. I should have too. DAMNIT.

Possible the backing is bent, would this not have affected the old shoes as well though? I dunno.

The shoes pivot area did not looks excessively worn or anything, its an odd one.

Maybe they didn't end up where they used to be.

[CRSMP5]

teeth worn on sides of adjuster?? worn teeth let it slide too easily...

[fatmobile]

Possibly cause the old shoes were worn? 

Along with the drums being heavily worn.
 They just don't match up.
 The high spot should eventually wear down.

[RabbitJockey]

I have mk3 backing plates/spindle/hardware/shoes/cylinders in my garage.. but drums are $55 a piece!

what? that is insane!  u should be able to get them for closer to 30 a piece, my price range from napa on them is 20-30 dollars.  i get employee pricing but most foreign parts dealers can match my employee price.