The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Is this possible.... too big brake shoes???

Howdy 'bolters...
Question... working on the brakes for my 65 GMC 1/2 ton 2 wd...
... I had rotting flex lines.... SOOOOOO..... I figure while it's apart, I'll change wheel cylinders, flex lines, new shoes, springs.... Generally clean things up.... Only did the left front wheel.... now it won't turn... at least by hand... even with the wheel on it, I barely have enough leverage to rotate it...
I checked everything 3 times... The drum seemed real tight going on and when I fastened the spindle nut, EVEN BY HAND...LOCKUP!!!
The brake adjuster is completely turned in to it's "smallest" setting.... I see significant rubbing on the shoes themselves, so my question is: Is it possible the linings are too thick?
On appearance the new shoes are exactly like the old ones, save for much thicker linings
Am I missing something? I've done a few drum brakes systems in the past...but never had this problem before...
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Pete in PA.

Steamroller, you probably checked this already to see if it's a possibility but since you didn't mention it here goes;
Aren't the linings on the front & rear shoes for a wheel different lengths? I was thinking that maybe you put two shoes with the longest linings on that one wheel. I can't remember which is supposed to be the longer lined shoe but take a look at the linings on the shoes on the other front wheel & see if they're different lengths and re-check the ones on the wheel you did. Anyway I hope it's something as easy as that.
You should still have enough room so the drum doesn't drag with the right shoes in the right place. Let us know what you find.
Jacques

Let us know what you find.
Jacques

If you have different-length linings, the shorter ones go toward the front. More likely, you've gotten a set of oversize linings that are supposed to be ground to fit the radius of the brake drums. Back in the 50's, some brake linings were made thicker than normal so they could be radius-ground to fit the diameter of the drums. of course, those linings were almost pure asbestos, so the dust was really deadly. Nobody knew, or cared back then. Check another set of linings to see if the thickness is different.
Jerry

Best way to check is to take the drum and linings back to the store where you bought them, or to the shop that turned your drums.

Back in the 70's the shop I worked for turned our own drums, then ground the shoes to match. Gave excellent results.

ok so I may be in Left feild all by myself with this but here it goes. When you put the shoe on did you compress them into the WC? I once had a brake job that the only way to get the WC to compress was to take off the MC cap. Seemed the MC was too full. If it were me I would try to crack open the bleader first. If no improvement then it might be the shoes but I doubt it.