Adjusting Rear Drum Brakes '07 Gmt 900

woodsmanpete · August 11, 2009

Looking for an adjustment procedure for the rear drum brakes, recently changed the shoes and the drums, but I'm not so sure I have the shoes adjusted properly. At install, I turned out the adjuster until I felt drag and heard contact. After I put the wheels back on, I pulled out on the street, backed up/stopped (with the brakes) 5 or 6 times. Asked a mechanic at work and he said set the parking brake, release then back up and stop (with the brakes) a couple more times. I did this and it seemed to help, but it doesn't seem to have the stopping power that it did before. I just want to make sure that they are adjusted properly. The new shoes and drums are Centric.

Thanks

Sir Dan · August 11, 2009

It may take a few hard stops to "set" the new shoes into the new drums so they work properly.

woodsmanpete · August 11, 2009

It may take a few hard stops to "set" the new shoes into the new drums so they work properly.

I did "season" them as Centric suggested with 5 reasonably hard stops from 45 mph to 10 mph, then drive around the block and let them cool.

redvett · August 11, 2009

You must back up and apply the brakes to adjust drum brakes.

nathan60 · August 12, 2009

disc brakes are always in adjustment lol

WilliamBos · August 12, 2009

disc brakes are always in adjustment lol

I proudly second that!! Are discs an option on the 1500's again?? If I ever replace my truck, I WILL want rear discs. NO more drums for me...EVER!!

Erichcb · August 12, 2009

have had some problems with the drums on my last two GMC truck.

Spurshot · August 12, 2009

disc brakes are always in adjustment lol

I proudly second that!! Are discs an option on the 1500's again?? If I ever replace my truck, I WILL want rear discs. NO more drums for me...EVER!!

I was really disappointed when GM went back to rear drums. My 99 has rear disks and my decision to buy the Vmax was cinched by the fact that I had to get the Vmax pkg to get rear disks. Drums are not my idea of a modern vehicle. No more drums for me either.

VMax2007 · August 12, 2009

disc brakes are always in adjustment lol

I proudly second that!! Are discs an option on the 1500's again?? If I ever replace my truck, I WILL want rear discs. NO more drums for me...EVER!!

I was really disappointed when GM went back to rear drums. My 99 has rear disks and my decision to buy the Vmax was cinched by the fact that I had to get the Vmax pkg to get rear disks. Drums are not my idea of a modern vehicle. No more drums for me either.

+1

Guymoe · August 12, 2009

This has all the symptoms of another DISC/DRUM debate.

woodsmanpete · August 12, 2009

After work last night, I pulled the wheels and the drums to see what everything looked like, and readjust thinking maybe there was a high spot on one of the pads and now that they are worn in a little maybe they needed a couple clicks of the adjustment wheel to bring the shoes into tolerance. I found my problem, the parking brake cable on the passenger side had somhow slipped out of the v-notch on the arm of the shoe and was disconnected. One pinched finger from that giant E spring and a couple of curses and I was back up and running. Stops on a dime now compared to before.