Brakes grabbing
 

When i use the brakes on my 1997 Chevrolet C2500 350ci 8600gvw truck the rear drums lock up on the truck. Now i have new shoes new springs in the rear as well. Everything is textbook but for some reason the drums are still grabbing and i cannot figure it out. At low speeds stopping the tires will lock up and the drums scream when breaking in my neighborhood. I am very mechanically minded and can fix just about anything on a truck but this issue has me at a COMPLETE LOSS. Please help.

Dave

I had that exact problem with my truck... TUrns out that the center bar that goes across the drum with the light blue spring was backwards. You'll want to put a new spring on it. It's real easy to do backwards. I'd check that to make sure.

Interesting Kevin.. I would have never thought of that...
I was gonna say an accumulation of brake dust in the drums. but knowing the brake were just serviced shoots that theory all to hell LOL

Let us know how it turns out David

brakes
 

Yeah i will does anyone happen to have a picture of what the spring setup should look like? My local stores are out of the repair manual.

SierraFan...are you talking about the bar just below the wheel cylinder i think its called the "parking brake link"

yeah. It's perfectly level and has a notch on one side. I believe that the notch goes towards the rear of the truck, but you'll be able to see if the brake shoes are not returning to their resting position properly.

Remember to readjust when you're done... it'll probably be about 1/4 inch off

Could be the shoes are backwards as well; some models have only 1/2" difference between leading and trailing... The lead shoe is thicker and longer, ime.

Here is a link that has some good pictures. Maybe they will help.
How To Replace GM Truck Rear Brake Shoes, GMC Yukon, Chevy Tahoe, Suburban, C/K Pickup With Rear Drums

Gerald

Wow !!! Awesome informative link Gerald.
Thanks

That is a great site! Unfortunately, your brakes will look slightly different due to having the 8600GVWR pickup with the larger brakes and 8lug wheels.

Do you see the bar that goes across that has the light blue spring on it?

Let us know how it goes!