impossible

I replaced the shoes on the rear drum brakes. Now the drum wont go over the shoes. I have the adjuster all the way closed. Help

 

Is everything back in the correct position?

 

I think you have to loosen this. Once the drum is on, there should be a slot on the other side to tighten/adjust it. It's been a long time since I've done a rear brake job though.

 

Ya. He said he had adjusted that ‘all the way closed’ already.

 

Sometimes with the new Rear Drum Redo one needs to smack the Shoes (up and together) with both Hands to Reset the Mojo. Then retry the Drum Install.

 

Take a look at the other side you didn’t do for comparison to see how everything is seated. Sometimes it just takes a slight reorientation to get it on there for the first time with new shoes. As a rule I always double check the new shoes to the old to make sure they’re identical. Sometimes just slapping both sides simultaneously gets them seated a little better to fit.

If all else fails invite a friend over for a beer and ask them to help out. Sometimes it just takes someone who has done it more often to get it on there the right way.

 

Every thing is correct , except after further inspection of the old shoes
I found a really odd wear pattern.
The brake lining was worn thin on one end of the shoe and still ample at the other end. The drum was out of round. I should change this thread name to stupidity. Lol

 

I had the adjuster loosened all the way.

 

Does it need to go the other way maybe?

 

My bust. Looking at the picture and it looked like there was room to tighten it down.

 

Back to the OP's original problem. With the obvious uneven wear you found on the pads, and the fact that you are dealing with 15 yr. old drums, I would definitely just replace them. New drums, new shoes, happy camper.

 

Any chance they're the wrong parts??

 

Hahaaahaaahaha

 

Our Original 1st Gen Brake Shoes usually wear unevenly as a norm. They’ll be thinner in some areas etc.

Be careful if you go with new Drums as many aftermarkets will throw you a new problem in premature warping and shimmys. Many members have learned this the hard way.

OEM Shoes are best bet on OEM Drums.

I’m guessing the Drum Stretcher idea triggered some people here?

 

Check the simple things like did you forget to release the Parking brake. Is the adjustment bolts below the drivers seat a set to tight.

 

Making the drum stretcher thing sort of real, OP see if there is a little burr or ridge at the mouth of the drum outside of where the shoes wore. Knocking that down with a flap wheel helps the drum go on. Beyond that, I usually hit the shoe faces with sandpaper until the drum will slide home.

 

You need to

 

Jim needed to suddenly leave before finishing his thought.

 

Grind a little on the tabs at the contact, could be paint buildup on the new shoes

 

Did you compress the brake cylinder all the way? Crack the bleeder and compress the brake cylinder all the way if not. Jiggle the shoes till they are "round" and not out of round. May help. Also grinding the lip off the drum may help.