Need rear brake and seal advice 1994 K3500 6.5 diesel This started be

jrsavoie · September 27, 2012

Need rear brake and seal advice 1994 K3500 6.5 diesel

This started because the emergency brake when released was no longer pulling the brake pedal all the way up.

I tightened the inline adjuster and it snugged the brakes up but it still did not seem as though the cable was being pulled back far enough.

After adjustment the emergency brake was fully engaged at about half pedal.

I pulled the drum off suspecting something amiss with the springs on the emergency brake cable.

The drums measure 12 7/8" I.D.

I found an oily mess.

How do you pull the axle on this truck? Does it just slide out or do you have to pull a clip in the rear end?

What are the best brake parts and seal to buy? And where to buy them? Part numbers?

Is there something that I might need to do to the emergency brake cable? Is it common to have to replace the return spring?

Is there a good thread someplace with pictures?

Last eight of the vin RJ384037

Thanks

aflesch · September 27, 2012

Return springs can wear out over time. If you buy the hardware kit it should come with new ones. It is also possible that the cables have stretched beyond the adjustment range and need to be replaced. if you are going to replace all the hardware anyway you will be able to tell once that is done weather or not your cables have stretched.

As for axle removal it depends which axle you have. There were 8 different axles available on your truck. 6 of them have axles that pull out by hand or with a slide hammer. The other 2 have a clip in the diff that needs to be removed.

As for where to buy parts my personal preference is NAPA or the dealer.

jrsavoie · September 28, 2012

The adjuster stud/cable was only about 1/2" into the nut. Plenty of adjustment left.

I just didn't seem like the length of throw was long enough.

I tightened the adjuster 1/2" and there was still 1/2" of slack left before the pedal hit the cable when applied.

The emergency brakes were set with the pedal about half way down. When released and the pedal pylled all the way up there was still about 1/2" of slack

Do the return springs for the emergency brake cables come with the emergency brake cable?

I didn't see them pictured in any of the kits I saw listed.

Other than the oil bath on one side, the brakes looked fairly new. Is a new hardware kit necessary?

aflesch · September 28, 2012

It sounds to me like you just need to tighten the adjuster more. If you have oil inside the drum like you say you do you should replace the shoes when you replace the axle seal. I always replace all the hardware when I replace shoes. And yes the return springs should come with a new cable.

jrsavoie · September 28, 2012

At this time I'm not planning to buy new cables. Waiting to see what I can see about how the cables and return springs work tomorrow.

I've been a little under the weather today and didn't get much done. Usually I'm better in the mornings

I have a hardware kit, shoes, gaskets and a seal coming home in the morning.

I probably should have also gotten cables. Could have always returned them. Wasn't thinking I guess

Doug_Scott · September 29, 2012

Parking brake cables do not have "return springs". Generally the front cable (the one that goes to pedal) has a spring on the end, but that is not for releasing the brake, it is to pull the parking brake pedal back to the fully released position to make the warning light turn off. When there is slack in the cables, the pedal will not return to fully released without that spring.

jrsavoie · September 29, 2012

I have 10 1/2" ring gear, full floating. One nut on the axle bearing. 13 x 3 1/2" drums

In all the schematics I have seen for this.- There appears to be 2 different sets of cables & 8 or so different rear end choices. - there was no spring near the cab or on the emergency brake pedal assembly>

There are springs on the emergency brake cable inside of the drum. I do not know for sure if they are return springs or guides.

I do know the pedal is no longer returning far enough to shut the brake light off. Unless you pull it up with your foot. I adjusted 1/2" of slack out of the cable and there was still 1/2" of slack to be taken out.

http://parts.nalleygmc.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_product=2778938&ukey_assembly=375096

Mine looks like this http://parts.nalleygmc.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_assembly=373168&ukey_make=1024&ukey_model=14520&modelYear=1994&ukey_category=19538&ukey_driveLine=6246&ukey_trimLevel=15167

I will try to get a picture of the cables

finally found a good number for the front cable Wagner BC130442. I think

Does anybody have the GM number?

Haven't found anybody that has one close by. Guess I'll have to wait.

I went to Rockauto and got confused http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?a=www.google.com%2BSearch%2Bfor%2BWAGNER%2BBC130442&catalog=5&partnum=BC130442&ck[iD]=0&ck[idlist]=0&ck[viewcurrency]=USD&ck[php_SESSION_ID]=acbn453pfeq8p1104krrqglbs5

AcDelco numbers 15607677, 15735528, 15735525, 15735524 & 18P976 all seemed like they might be for my truck