Re: '88 Grand Wagon brake job

Sometimes you have to open the brake reservoir cap to get the wheel 
cylinders to compress so the shoes fit on.  The air pressure under the 
cap will push the little pistons back out.

The other issue can be a too tight emergency brake cable.  The e-brake 
cable will want some slack in it at this point so it isn't pulling on 
it's levering system.  'Just enough' to stay tight with no lever movement.

You must do a manual adjust through the hole in the backing plate when 
you put the drums on or the self adjusters might not catch.  The cable 
can be too loose on a new install and needs to be snugged up.

The brake adjusters 'set' when you hit the brakes going forward.  Then 
when you hit the brakes in reverse, the shoes ****ft, pulling on that 
cable which turns the star wheel.  You need to then go forward and hit 
the brakes again to re-set them, before another brake hit in the reverse 
direction will try to adjust them again.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
'New' frame in the works for '08.  Some Canadian Bush Trip and Build
Photos: http://mikeromainjeeptrips.shutterfly.com

Mark Corbelli wrote:
> OK so I did one side last night. Everything went OK. I used C-clamps for
a 
> second pair of hands. The brake tool kit helped with the springs. Had I 
> known it would be this easy, I'd started doing my own brakes years ago.
I 
> didn't change out the cylindars, so that made it easier I'm sure. I did
hit 
> a snag though. The new drums are too small. I adhusted the shoes all the
way 
> in and the new drum will bareley slide on. I have them in the car plus
one 
> of the old ones and I'll head over to NAPA at lunch. I hope they can fix
it 
> for me. Also a friend told me that after I'm done I should travel 10' or
so 
> in reverse and hit the brakes several times. He said the brakes self
adjust 
> but only in reverse. Any truth to that? 
> 
>