Please help! Brakes dont work after replacing 81 G1

[DirtDiggler]

I just replaced my very worn out brake shoes with new ones. The old ones would stop, just not very well. After replacing I cant get the new ones to make contact with the drum enough to even tell you are pushing the brake pedal. I have searched all the forums, looked at all the parts breakdowns and my cart appears to NOT have the screw with the star adjuster- and there is not a place for it!. There is a bolt that goes through the pivot mechanism but it appears that it has to be slightly loose for the mechanism to slide or only one side of the brakes work. The only adjustment I have found is by turning the bolt at the top pivot which seems to only move the shoes a tiny bit. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[smallblock450sl]

Originally Posted by DirtDiggler

I just replaced my very worn out brake shoes with new ones. The old ones would stop, just not very well. After replacing I cant get the new ones to make contact with the drum enough to even tell you are pushing the brake pedal. I have searched all the forums, looked at all the parts breakdowns and my cart appears to NOT have the screw with the star adjuster- and there is not a place for it!. There is a bolt that goes through the pivot mechanism but it appears that it has to be slightly loose for the mechanism to slide or only one side of the brakes work. The only adjustment I have found is by turning the bolt at the top pivot which seems to only move the shoes a tiny bit. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Yes the adjuster is the bolt at the top. As you turn it in, it pushes the upper part of the brake shoes toward the drum. I recomend loosening the brake cable equilizer (at the brake pedal), adjust the brake shoes so there is alittle "drag" when installing and turning the drum. Then adjust the equilizer so the brake pedal locks on the first or second "catch" to your preferance. Also like to rough up the brake linings and drum surfaces with 90 grit sandpaper. Good luck Dave

[DirtDiggler]

Thanks- but, regardless of where the top adjuster is at, the brakes dont seem to even touch the drums!

[DirtDiggler]

Also, the bottom spring seems to be looser than I would expect; seems as if the equalizer needs to be wider and then everything would work.

[smallblock450sl]

Originally Posted by DirtDiggler

Also, the bottom spring seems to be looser than I would expect; seems as if the equalizer needs to be wider and then everything would work.

Did you order J10 brake shoes? Not J17/J55 style shoes? Maybe the adjuster is bad?

[DirtDiggler]

Everything carts sent me BRK-0112 - I Specifically asked them to double check the number when I ordered and they said they did. They did look different then the ones I took off but the lengths seemed identical.

[smallblock450sl]

Originally Posted by DirtDiggler

Everything carts sent me BRK-0112 - I Specifically asked them to double check the number when I ordered and they said they did. They did look different then the ones I took off but the lengths seemed identical.

Just went to there site. You should have got BRK-004 , not BRK-0112. 79 thru 81 are differant brake shoes. IMHO, aftermarket brake linings don't grab as well as stock. Box them up,ship them back and get the right ones for your apllication.

[DirtDiggler]

Thank you so much! this was bout to drive me crazy- I had just about decided it had to be the wrong ones. Are you suggesting it would be worth the diff to get the OEM shoes? If it make that big a difference I will. Thanks again.