The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Hand Brake

Good Morning!
I just installed new brake shoes, drums, etc. and I need to adjust the hand brake.
Adjusted it as per the service manual but 8 clicks is the end of the lever travel.
Can soemone suggest an easier way to do it?
I was thinking of going to the half way point (about 5 or 6 clicks at the hand lever) and adjusting the cables so that the wheels don't turn. Is this a good idea? Should be as long as the wheels turn freely when the brake is released. Have I missed something?
Many Thanks

Please let me have your suggestions... Thanks

Make, model, year truck?

Standard equipment, or, have modifications been made?

My pickup is a 55 Series II model 3200.
It is all original and all of the new brake drums, linings, wheel cylinders and hand brake cables are NOS OE parts. No modifications.
I'm just looking for some suggestions as to how best to adjust the hand brake so that it brakes evenly. Tried the service manual directions but when I pull the hand brake lever back four notches and try to adjust the cables for an even drag at the rear wheels, one wheel always has more drag because of the differential. The other wheel is not slowed by the differential and turns easier.
On the road, one wheel always locks up when I pull the hand lever. Also, when on the road at say 20MPH, I can pull the hand lever all the way to the end of it's travel. That can't be right.
Any suggetions would be greatly appreciated...

do it the way the manual states, first make sure the brake shoes are adjusted properly - the "4 notches" is when you first connect the cables to the cross shaft by hand pull, then you need to pull the handle further until one wheel has a heavy drag, meaning it's hard to turn [harder than the diff would cause], then try evening out the drag - and note with the handle pulled out 9 notches the rear wheels should be locked, it shouldn't be possible to 'pull the hand lever all the way to the end of it's travel' .... if you have one wheel locking up when road tested, loosen that side or tighten up the other one

Bill

Hello All,
It's finally spring and I took my truck out of the garage for my first drive in 2014! I evened out the tire pressures and checked all fluids then hit the road.
Everything is fine with the exception of the problems I've had all along.
Engine noise above 2500 RPM and one rear wheel locking up when I brake hard.
I'm going to readjust the valves to see if that changes the engine noise but the rear brakes have me stumped
How can I adjust them so it brakes evenly. Apparently,going by the subjective drag isn't working. Have bled the brakes again - no air AT ALL. Still, just when I think the drag is equal, one wheel still locks up. Brake shoes, drums, wheel cylinders, etc. are all new. Is it the diff or maybe the parking brake adjustment? Parking brake is another issue. I hope when I get the braking evened out the parking brake will also work better. As it is, when I use it one wheel locks up too.
Thanks

When adjusting the brakes did you turn the adjuster until it locked the drum up tight so you couldn't spin it at all, then back off to the desired 'feel' or did you just adjust till it felt right after installation?

This little thing jumped at me from the shop manual:
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1955truck2/55ctsm0517.htm
It might be worth checking to be sure.

But that page is for a 1.5 and 2 ton rear not the 1/2 ton... are they the same?

Sorry about that. This is what I was looking for.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1955truck2/55ctsm0512.htm
This is how to center the brakes in the drum.

So you are sure that there is no difference in the shoes between the two sides? Also, the front shoe and rear shoe have not been switched on one side? When you turn the wheel backwards on each side, do they act the same? How about if the drums are switched side to side?

I turned the adjuster until it locked the drum up tight then backed off. Tried to get the same drag at both rear wheels but apparently that didn't work.
Thanks for your input!

Thanks for your input.
Did everything exactly as decsribed. Think maybe my problem is that the service brakes aren't/were not
adjusted correctly.
Will be taking everything apart - again - today and will have another go at it.

short shoe goes to the front of the vehicle.