The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk '58 shoes on backwards

I had a brake shop work on my '58 about 3 1/2 years ago and the brakes have performed flawlessly. Recently while driving the truck there was suddenly a rotational grinding noise. I stopped and ruled out wheel bearings and my only clue it was the brakes was that the pedal was hard at the top. This only persisted a short distance but I took the truck to the shop that did the work just to have everything checked out. The mechanic said that there was no problem at all with the brakes but that the shoes had been installed backwards. He assured me that this made no difference at all. As I said, the brakes have been flawless all this time and have not shown any problems in about 70 miles of driving since the temporary grinding and hard pedal.

You need to find a better brake mechanic. Short shoe goes to the front, and it certainly does make a difference. Without drving it for myself and hearing the noise, I can only guess at what it might be, but my first thought would be exsessive dist buildup, probably caused by premature wear on the trailing shoe because it was put on wrong. Those shoes are different material, and need to be installed correctly for proper operation.

If it made no difference there would be no backwards. The brakes are designed so the big shoe does the most work and the little shoe does all the emergency or parking brake work. Did you intend to ask a question or are you just looking for opinions? I would shop for a different brake shop for sure.

I guess they just wanted to save themselves the trouble of making things right. I'll find a better shop to correct this instead of going back.

I would show them the receipt and ask for it to be fixed right.If they did the work and admit the shoes are on backwards,they should be obligated to make it right.

You paid them to do the job right. I wouldn't have a problem letting them fix it. They have to learn somehow!

I would be more concerned with what made the grinding noise you heard if it wasn't brakes.

You say they did this work 3 1/2 years ago? How many miles since that work was done?

Have you changed anything else lately, like rims?

I thought it over and I called the shop back yesterday and they agreed to do the job right, which is only right. My only hesitation was wondering what might get screwed up this time!
I've probably put on 5,000+ miles in the last 3 1/2 years. The mechanic there said the shoes were still like new. I've had the same stock wheels all this time and the grinding is still a mystery, but only lasted a short time.

when they have it opened again, look at it yourself and see if there's scrape marks on the drum friction surface, or the ends of the short shoes, also if any hold down spring washers look brand new compared to the rest, they may have "touched up" something without mention it and the symptoms you describe could be caused by shoes slipping out of position, particularly because of a hold down popping loose, which can happen .... and after it's fixed up DO find another shop, a brakeman who says the shoe position doesn't make any difference is either plain incompetant or lying

Bill