Brake problem with 86 TC

Topic: Brake problem with 86 TC (Read 3941 times) previous topic - next topic

Brake problem with 86 TC

Reply #15 – February 18, 2011, 11:21:20 AM

Thanks, please do. I would do the same if I had the money.

Brake problem with 86 TC

Reply #16 – February 19, 2011, 01:17:52 PM

Well, I just found the problem and you guys and the mechanic were right. Rear drums have two different size shoes. The smaller ones go to the front, and the bigger ones go to the back part of the drum. In my haste to install, I put both the small ones on one side and both big ones on the other. DUH!!! Thats why the brakes were uneven as you guys stated, and I didnt have peddle. On one side the shoes werent even touching the drum (both small shoes) and on the other side the shoes werent even on the brake cylinders.(both big shoes) Live and Learn

Thank God for free brake inspections. It took me all about 30 minutes to do it myself-part of that time was spent iacking the car up and taking off the wheels. They were planning on charging me $180 just to flip the shoes and replace "so called" necessary hardware.

Brake problem with 86 TC

Reply #17 – February 19, 2011, 03:19:55 PM

Thanks for sharing the answer. I was actually thinking about this while I was driving in to work today!

Glad you are up and running.

Brake problem with 86 TC

Reply #18 – February 19, 2011, 03:43:22 PM

Hmm, I'll have to double check my drums. I'm not even 100% sure that I have the right size shoes. There was a box of new shoes in the car when I bought it, and I installed them. (Old ones were down to the metal)

Thanks for keeping us updated

Brake problem with 86 TC

Reply #19 – February 20, 2011, 02:28:44 AM

Quote from: t3skidoo;352789

Are you doing this alone? Do you have a power bleeder?

this is a brake bleeder helper,
Position the blade on the pedal after you pump it up, then bow it to catch under your wheel.
when you loosen the zirk fitting and bleed off brake fluid, the knife keeps the pedal to the floor for you.

Brake problem with 86 TC

Reply #20 – February 20, 2011, 02:33:20 AM

Quote from: flylear45;352987

87 manual says the drum brakes self adjust by braking lightly going in reverse, then pulling forward a bit, then backing up and braking again, until the brakes get tight enough.
.

yeah,, right,,
only if you drive backwards for two miles and slam on the brakes.
this never worked right with fords and it isnt just my opinion.

Brake problem with 86 TC

Reply #21 – February 20, 2011, 02:44:55 AM

Quote from: RDOG;353326

Well, I just found the problem and you guys and the mechanic were right. Rear drums have two different size shoes. The smaller ones go to the front, and the bigger ones go to the back part of the drum. In my haste to install, I put both the small ones on one side and both big ones on the other. DUH!!! Thats why the brakes were uneven as you guys stated, and I didnt have peddle. On one side the shoes werent even touching the drum (both small shoes) and on the other side the shoes werent even on the brake cylinders.(both big shoes) Live and Learn

Thank God for free brake inspections. It took me all about 30 minutes to do it myself-part of that time was spent iacking the car up and taking off the wheels. They were planning on charging me $180 just to flip the shoes and replace "so called" necessary hardware.

sounds to me you didnt learn your lesson.
You screw up by not paying attention wanting instant gratification and yet the professionals say you need some hardware ,,and yet your going to trust your 25 year old oem stuff over new cut hardware.

i have no clue how you got the two large shoes inside one drum,, i never tried it but i guess they fit.

glad you found the problem.
if you adjust the rear like chuck said, you will instantly notice the nose not dipping down.
Eventually when you see the nose is dipping down when braking, you know its time to adjust them again by hand.
I raise one wheel and put the car in N then adjust till i hear the pads rubbing while turning the wheel.
Next I turn the adjuster another click till the wheel cant move.
I drive it and the pads rub and cut themselves to fit the shape of my drum thus loosening up a little.

Brake problem with 86 TC

Reply #22 – February 20, 2011, 04:25:41 AM

Quote from: jcassity;353407

sounds to me you didnt learn your lesson.
You screw up by not paying attention wanting instant gratification and yet the professionals say you need some hardware ,,and yet your going to trust your 25 year old oem stuff over new cut hardware.

i have no clue how you got the two large shoes inside one drum,, i never tried it but i guess they fit.

glad you found the problem.
if you adjust the rear like chuck said, you will instantly notice the nose not dipping down.
Eventually when you see the nose is dipping down when braking, you know its time to adjust them again by hand.
I raise one wheel and put the car in N then adjust till i hear the pads rubbing while turning the wheel.
Next I turn the adjuster another click till the wheel cant move.
I drive it and the pads rub and cut themselves to fit the shape of my drum thus loosening up a little.

I didnt need to buy new hardware, The hardware was fine. The hardware I had in there was newer stuff. I'm one of those wierdo's who goes to the junk yard and collects all the newest parts I can find BEFORE I do a job, so just in case I end up working on the car late into the night, I dont have to travel anywhere for parts looking for the closest 24 hour parts store. Thats probably the other reason I didnt let him do the work. Basically he wanted me to pay $180 to flip two brake shoes. Aint gonna happen!

I did the adjustment like Chuck said, so I'm good to go. Thanks again guys!

Brake problem with 86 TC

Reply #23 – February 20, 2011, 06:30:42 AM

Glad you got it fixed. One thing that comes to mind, if you got two 'big' shoes to fit in one side, you might want to check the drums to see if they're within spec.