ACK - Rear Drum Brakes

[jtison]

Well, I gotta admit I'm pretty frustrated. I'm just starting to reassemble the rear R drum brake. I'm early in the installation. Got the secondary shoe on, put on the primary (rear) shoe, and then realized I hadn't connected the parking brake cable to the lever. OK, remove primary shoe, and then I hit my brick wall for the day:

I can't get the **** spring retracted far enough from the "bullet" at the end of the cable to get it over that slot in the parking brake actuation lever. Serious: I only need about 1/2 inch.

Anybody got a handy hint for me?

TIA!!

 

[jimbo74]

take the shoes off, and then put it on, it will stretch when you get some good leverage on it, make sure the e-brake is fully disengaged also

spin the star wheel all the way closed as well

 

[marragtop]

Get everything hooked up first, and put the star/self adjuster assembly in last(adjust the assmbly all the way closed first). You will have to pry apart the bottom of the shoes, but it will work. A second set of hands would help.

 

[jtison]

I'm down to the backing plate, one shoe on. Figured I'd better hook the **** parking brake cable to the lever before I put the rear shoe on, or I'm gonna be in trouble

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I'll start tomorrow when my hands and my frustration level are fresh.