I hate....

[1974dodgecharger]

Replacing everything on drum brakes and especially getting the springs back on damn it what a sob.

[cdr]

i hate to tell you but the shorter shoe goes on the front.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

If you have the right tools, it's child's play.

[BB1]

Easiest thing to do bud. 

Now go swap those shoes around.

[JB400]

It's not that bad if you know how to cheat

[Cooter]

Yep, shoes backwards. Any auto parts store sells the tool to ease spring install.
lemme know when you tune up a Windstar van, or do an A/C evaporator in a late 90's, early 2000's Dodge truck and im right there with you...


PS don't forget to squeeze that clip holding the E brake lever in the shoe. You are also missing the self adjuster cable and hardware.

[70 sublime]

.

[Mike DC]

It's worth the price of a disc brake conversion just to not have to service the drums anymore IMO. 

[Mopar Nut]

It's worth the price of a disc brake conversion just to not have to service the drums anymore IMO. 

[A383Wing]

where's the spring to hold the bottom of the shoes against the star adjuster thingy?

And yea, shoes are on wrong, brake spring install & removal tool is all of $5 at most stores, self adjusting cable, lever, & spring are missing if you have 10" drums....

start over, get a manual, and do it right...follow pics in manual, and the springs & hardware go on in a certain order as well

[68RT440]

Looks like you need to pinch the horse shoe retainer clip that holds the e brake arm onto the shoe....once you get the shoes switched around...

[chargerboy69]

It's worth the price of a disc brake conversion just to not have to service the drums anymore IMO. 

A very wise man right here.

[bull]

Are you doing it with a screwdriver? Like they said, go down and spend $12 or whatever on a set of brake tools. Life will be much easier.

[1974dodgecharger]

My setup is original I took picks and the spring was the same both tops which is odd I thought.  Spring is ar the bottom, in back its how it all fit in.   Fckin shoes....and yeah disc conversion are worth it but didnt have money for them if I plan the trip to vegas.

[BROCK]

With the right tools a drum brake job really is easy
& rewarding.  Matco, Mac etc offer general drum brake
service tool kits that make it a snap. 

I'm all for Disk brakes & safety.  But there are 2 truths
in play here: 
a) Rare cars will tend to keep their originality - including
drums.
b) Simply putting discs on 2 or 4 corners with the rest of
the system remaining stock is truly a step backwards in
terms of safety & stopping distance.  Without the proper
master cylinder & booster - disks are just eye candy

[1974dodgecharger]

where's the spring to hold the bottom of the shoes against the star adjuster thingy?

And yea, shoes are on wrong, brake spring install & removal tool is all of $5 at most stores, self adjusting cable, lever, & spring are missing if you have 10" drums....

start over, get a manual, and do it right...follow pics in manual, and the springs & hardware go on in a certain order as well

Its a 11incher....

[ChargerST]

I put on self adjusters on my 11" rear brakes..rockauto has the hardware.

[myk]

It's worth the price of a disc brake conversion just to not have to service the drums anymore IMO. 

Another vote for discs; I can't wait for rear discs so I'll never have to look at another drum brake again...

[1974dodgecharger]

I put on self adjusters on my 11" rear brakes..rockauto has the hardware.

I was impatient for them, when the weekend comrs for me its charger time.  I was able to now test my e brake and now works so no more using tranny to parker her.

[John_Kunkel]

An old-timer showed me a trick to make drum brake jobs less messy, place a tub under the brake and douche the whole works with a garden hose...washes away all that brake dust. Then blow dry.

[Ghoste]

Would have been a lot safer than breathing in all that asbestos too.  Ironically the old timer was likely just trying to stay a bit cleaner and never knew about the health benefit.

[1974dodgecharger]

Well they work like a champ took her out for a 50 mile cruise, braking is way different now that tue rearz engage at its max vs before she engaged barely and then I pinched the line  and well I had only front brakes for 2 weeks.  I can engage my parking brake now also vs bef9re I used the tranny to do it.

[fy469rtse]

  good job , looks great, even better feeling when everything works

[A383Wing]

you did swap the rear shoes, right?

[ACUDANUT]

Also isn't the brake adjuster backwards ? I can't remember.