rear drum brakes

[rr8325]

Anybody have this issue? On rear drum brake I am reassembling from new parts and the notch in the push bar seems to be just a smidgen shallow. Even with the star adjusters all the way in the drum does not want to slip on. This is only on one side. If I could deepen the notch on the bar it would solve my problem. Thanks

[Joey]

I would compare the push bar to the one on the other side to see if they are different. If they are the same then I would deepen the notch on the shoe.
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Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

[andk5591]

Double check your adjusters to be sure they are the right type (angled or straight) for the type of shoe you have AND if angled, the angle matches the angle on the shoe. You would not be the first person who mismatched shoes and adjusters or had the adjusters in upside down.
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D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
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Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
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66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[Joey]

I believe the shoe is straight where the shoe contacts the adjuster for '58-'64.
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Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

[rr8325]

Yes, both the adjusters and the shoes are straight. I guess I'm thinking this is a case of aftermarket parts not playing together so well...

[rs58rag]

Loosen adjustment nuts at E-brake handle then retry. Also, some shoe spring pins and springs are too long. I reused the original shoe spring, spring retaining pins and caps.

[fly2kads]

It's hard to tell from the pic, but it looks like there is a bit of a gap on the right hand star adjuster, like the shoe is not seating well in the slot. It may be the pic, or my old, tired eyes, but that would be worth confirming.

[herbie1200]

Usually the culprit should be identified by increasing testing.

Try to remount all with the e-brake cable detached from inside the drum.

If not success: try to remount drum without the push bar, checking if upper part of shoes does deeply push-in the cylinder halves.

If not success: re-check shoes if they are definitively straight by posing them on a flat surface.

Be sure that both (cylinder and adjuster) have the NARROW slot, i.e. the shoe should be firmly seated into the slot and perfectly aligned with drum internal face.

Only a few parts maker (LPR, FAG...) have the correct narrow slot cylinders, while others declare compliance for large slot cylinders that are wrong.

[Cusser]

Did the other side go together OK?
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[flyboy161]

Things I see: The forward shoe is sitting slightly higher than the rear shoe on the backing plate.

Things I’ve experienced: the wheel cylinder is not fully compressed. Loosen the bleeder screw and squeeze the two brake pads together so the pistons go in the wheel cylinder more. Then make sure the shoes are centered vertically
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My father's 1970 Beetle-
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=603879

The 1964...Diamond in the rough
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=612776

My 1958 Morocco Bug-
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=611483

[rs58rag]

Don't alter the E-brake shoe connecting link. Loosen ebrake cables and compress shoes in by hand. Looks like ebrake lever is slightly activated in picture.