I spent a leisurely day yesterday installing my 8 1/4" rear end. My problem is such; I installed 10" x 2 1/2" rear drums and shoes, new flex line, new hard line (from flex to cylinder), new springs and the new, smaller cylinders recommended by SSD in another post. I bled the lines (although I'm going to do it again today to make sure) and installed the wheels. The adjusters are "all the way in", that is to say at the minimum possible adjustment, but I can still feel the brakes dragging when I rotate the wheel by hand. The drive shaft is not connected as it is in the shop being shortened, so it can't be drag from further up the driveline. The drums/shoes have not yet been "bedded in" as I can't drive the car until there's something connecting the tranny to the diff. Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Will this drag (very slight, mind you) go away once I break the brakes in (that's fun to say. "Break the brakes" )

Thanks in advance,

Nat

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1970 four-door Dart, 225/A-904/2.45 gears. 0-60 in twenty three minutes!

Did you centre the brake shoes after installing the drums by stepping hard on the brake pedal? If so, and they still drag, possibly you've got a bad rear brake flex hose — did you replace it?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

A slight drag is normal. It is impossible to tell what you are dealing with from your description. You should feel it, and hear it when you turn it by hand. Unless someone with experience could actually feel it, there is no way to tell if what you are feeling is normal. Do you know anybody who could come over and put a hand to it in person?

Sam

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Flex hose was replaced as was everything back from there. The only braking components not replaced were the backer plates. I cleaned them up, but the "bearing surfaces" -where the shoes ride on the plate- were pretty rough. I can't help but wonder if the outer face of the shoe is coming into contact with the drum. I drove it yesterday and the brakes have never felt better, but I can hear a bit of noise from the passenger side. I'm going to open it up after work tonight and see if my theory holds water.

Thanks,

Nat

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1970 four-door Dart, 225/A-904/2.45 gears. 0-60 in twenty three minutes!