Drum brakes make me sweat

My full truck maintenance continues. I finished the front end and now it's onto the back. I had a feeling the drum brakes weren't doing much but need some confirmation.

I was able to pull the drum off both sides easily, no resistance. I opened it up and started checking things over. I've read just about every thread on here about drum brakes but it almost looks like only the front pad on both sides are really doing the work since they are much thinner. The manual says min thickness is 1mm but I'm assuming I should replace these?

Second, I backed the adjusted screw off as one post mentioned and had someone push the ebrake on and off. The adjuster never moved so I'm guessing it might be stuck or the ebrake line is frozen. Thoughts?

 

When you pull the e-brake....do the shoes move? If not, some part of the system is frozen. The bell cranks on the back of the brake backing plates are a common place for things to get stuck.

Your 2005 may not have the automatic adjusters, we have found here that late model first gens seem to have different brake internals than earlier ones. But if the shoes aren't even moving then the parking brake needs works anyway.

Drum brake pads usually don't wear evenly, simply the nature of how they are levered against the rotors, particularly if not adjusted correctly.

 

They move minimally. Just a slight budge when you engage and disengage. How would I know if I have automatic adjusters? I have that adjuster piece under the frame on the drivers side.

 

With the drums off, they should move a lot, 1/2" or so.

If they have the auto adjusters, there is another flat piece of metal on one of the shoes, with a little hooked arm that engages the geared wheel on the adjuster bar. I believe its on the front side on one side, and the back side on the other but its been a few years now since I fixed mine so I may be wrong.

With the drums off, it should rotate the adjuster star several clicks every time the parking brake is pulled.

The piece on the drivers side frame is for adjusting the tension on the parking brake cable.