My new to me AMC 20, which was bought from someone who had it built, but never installed it is giving me trouble. I am having trouble getting the brakes adjusted correctly. I set them up where the shoes just started rubbing the drums, seemed to turn just fine, put it all back together, drove it, and brakes started grabbing, where i couldn't even roll down a slight hill. I then adjusted the brakes back in where they were not rubbing and adjusted the park brake cable way out, just to make sure, and had the same result. And it doesn't take much pedal at all to lock up the rear brakes.
Playing with it with tires off, both sides seem to be able to turn freely for a few rotations, then the brakes grab out of no where. Pull the drum off, put it back on, and it rotates freely again for a few turns then locks up again...:brickwall:brickwall:brickwall:brickwall
I compared the brakes to the ones on the axle I removed from the jeep, and everything is set up the same way.
Any suggestions?
Does the friction material at each end of the shoes have a taper or bevel to them? If not, take a rough file and put an even bevel on the ends. I've seen where the sharp edge of the friction material will grab the drum and cause them to self energize. Putting the bevel on there alleviates that sudden grab to a smoother transition.
Adding the chamfer is a good idea. If you try to drive it like this does it grab so hard you can't move or do the shoes grab and release with a clack noise? I have seen the finishing cut on drums act like a record player. They will grab the shoes and cause them to move laterally with the drum during rotation. Once the shoe hits the side it binds until it pops free. It will continue to do this over and over while you drive. If that's the case, try taking a light sand paper to the drum surface and lightly sand in small circles. Clean and wipe with brake clean, just spraying a drum or rotor does not clean it off they must be wiped down. Also make sure the shoe with the longer friction material is toward the back. Just more ideas for you.
Makes sure the right shoe is in the right location. I'll have to get some pictures but there is a leading shoe and a trailing shoe in each drum. You could have two of one type on each side.
It doesn't grab so hard that it doesn't move, but grabs enough to be noticeable when slowing down from speed. My drive way has a slight grade on it, sometimes it will roll down it, sometimes it'll barely move on the grade. I drove it to work this morning after taking the edge off the leading corners and I didn't notice it and they didn't seem to get as hot. I'll play with them some more to be sure when I leave the fire station in the morning.
Fixed it. I didn't pay attention to it until the picture was posted, but the brake shoes were wrong, not installed wrong, but the wrong shoes. I installed the ones from my old axle which were in good shape and problem solved. I can touch a lug nut now after driving it without burning my hand. I appreciate the help.
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