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Old 01-19-2015, 07:15 PM   #15
VWNate1
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: So. Cali.
Posts: 2,606
Post Brake Drum Springs

Correct ;

They just sit there in a casted in groove .

DON'T take them off because once in a while they're bugger all to get back into place .

OBTW : you should not ' turn ' or ' machine ' the brake drums unless they're severely bell mouthed or so badly warped the brake pedal pulsates under your foot .

This is directly from my BENDIX (the good Folks who engineered the drum bakes on your old Chevy Truck) Factory training ! turning and machining brake drums reduces their ability to dissipate heat , always a very bad thing on drum brakes indeed .

Dealers & Shops like to insist upon it because it's easy money and sells lots of new drums .

Once in a while the Customer runs the brake shoes metal to metal , then what ? .

Simple : take some 600 grit sand paper and smooth up the sharp ridges then re assemble with your new shoes and do a gentle break in by making numerous slow (- 35 MPH) stops , in a few blocks the shoes will be fully bedded in , if you have the original automatic brake adjusters , just back up and make _complete_ quick stops a few times and they're done .

Other wise manually adjust the brakes until there's nu ' SH , SH ' sound coming from the shoes against the drums ~ this tiny bit of clearance is critical to prevent heat buildup as you drive .

Most ' mechanics ' (feh) adjust brake shoes to a light drag , this is wrong and dangerous to boot .

I hope this is helpful .
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