Removal and Installation

NOTE: Before proceeding, review service warnings and cautions, refer to Brakes, Service Precautions.

REMOVAL
1. Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a hoist. See Hoisting in Lubrication.
2. Remove the rear wheel and tire assemblies from the vehicle.

NOTE: If the vehicle has high mileage, the brake drums may have a ridge worn in them by the brake shoes. This ridge causes the brake drum to interfere with the brake shoes, not allowing the brake drum to be removed. Further clearance can be obtained by fully backing off the brakes automatic self adjuster mechanism, using the following procedure.






3. Remove the rubber plug from the top of brake support plate.






4. Insert a screwdriver, through the automatic adjuster access hole, in the rear brake support plate. Engage screwdriver with the teeth on the adjuster mechanism quadrant. Then rotate quadrant so that teeth on quadrant, are moved toward the front of the vehicle. Continue moving quadrant toward front of vehicle until it stops moving. This will fully back off the adjustment of the rear brake shoes allowing brake drum to be removed.






5. Remove rear brake drum to hub/bearing retaining nuts (if equipped). Then remove rear brake drum from hub and bearing assembly.






6. Remove the actuating spring from the automatic adjuster mechanism and the trailing brake shoe.






7. Remove the upper return spring from the leading and trailing brake shoe assembly.






8. Remove the lower return spring from the leading and trailing brake shoe assembly.






9. Remove the brake shoe retainer and pin from the leading brake shoe assembly.






10. Remove the leading brake shoe and the adjuster mechanism as an assembly, from the rear brake support plate. The adjuster mechanism can not be separated from the leading brake shoe until the brake shoe and adjuster mechanism is removed from the support plate.






11. Remove the brake shoe retainer and pin, from the trailing brake shoe.
12. Remove the trailing brake shoe assembly from the brake support plate.

CAUTION: On this vehicle, the park brake actuating lever is permanently attached to the trailing brake shoe assembly. Do not attempt to remove it from the original brake shoe assembly or reuse the original actuating lever on a replacement brake shoe assembly. All replacement brake shoe assemblies for this vehicle must have the actuating lever as part of the trailing brake shoe assembly.






13. Remove the park brake cable from the park brake actuating lever, attached to the trailing brake shoe assembly. Do not attempt to remove actuating lever from brake shoe assembly.






14. Remove the automatic adjuster mechanism from the original leading brake shoe assembly for installation on the replacement brake shoe, using the following procedure. Fully extend the adjuster mechanism in the direction shown. Then, with adjuster mechanism fully extended, rotate the adjuster mechanism in the direction shown, to separate adjuster mechanism from leading brake shoe.


CLEANING AND INSPECTION
Clean metal portion of brake shoes. Check to see if shoes are bent.
Lining should show contact across entire width and from heel to toe, otherwise replace.
Shoes with lack of contact at toe or heel may be improperly ground.
Clean and inspect the brake support plate and the automatic self adjusting mechanism.
Visually examine the adjuster assembly to ensure it is functioning correctly by checking for the following operation.






- Be sure the quadrant is free to rotate throughout its entire tooth contact range.
- Ensure that the quadrant is free to slide the full length of its mounting slot in the adjuster mechanism.
- Inspect the quadrant spring for any signs of excessive wear or damage.
- Ensure that the knurled pin is securely attached to the adjuster mechanism and that its teeth are not damaged.
- Overall, examine the adjuster mechanism for excessive wear or damage and replace if necessary.
If the adjuster mechanism is reusable, apply a light coat of Mopar Multi-Purpose Lubricant or equivalent, between the quadrant and the strut of the adjuster mechanism.
If old springs have overheated or are damaged, replace. Overheating indications are paint discoloration or distorted end coils.

INSTALLATION






NOTE: The leading rear brake shoes on this vehicle are designated for which side of the vehicle they are to be installed on. When correctly installed, the web reinforcement plate on the brake shoes will be facing toward the brake support plate.






1. Lubricate the eight brake shoe contact areas (indicated by arrows) on the support plate and anchor using Mopar Multi-Purpose Lubricant or equivalent.
2. Install the park brake cable on the park brake actuating lever of the trailing brake shoe.

CAUTION: The leading and trailing brake shoes used on the rear brakes of this vehicle are unique (handed) for the left and right side of the vehicle. Care must be taken to ensure the brake shoes are properly installed on the vehicle. When the trailing brake shoes are properly installed on the correct side of the vehicle, the park brake actuating lever will be positioned behind the brake shoe web.

3. Install the correctly handed trailing brake shoe on the support plate so it is squarely seated on the shoe contact areas. Then install the brake retainer on the retainer pin.







4. Install the automatic self adjuster mechanism on the correct leading brake shoe assembly using the reverse procedure as indicated in step Step 14 of the brake shoe removal procedure. Refer to figure for the correct installation of the adjuster mechanism on the leading brake shoe.

NOTE: When installing the leading brake shoe, the web support plate must be facing the brake support plate.

5. Install the leading brake shoe and the adjuster mechanism as an assembly on the brake support plate.
6. Be sure leading brake shoe assembly is squarely seated on the brake support plate shoe contact areas. Then install the brake retainer on the retainer pin.
7. Install the lower return spring onto the leading and trailing brake shoe assembly.

CAUTION: The upper brake shoe return spring and adjuster mechanism actuating spring are unique for the side of the vehicle they are used on. The springs are colored for identification of which side of the vehicle they are to be used on. The left side springs are colored green and the right side springs are blue.

8. Install the upper return spring (blue right side, green left side) on the leading brake shoe first, then on the trailing brake shoe.
9. Install the automatic adjuster actuation spring first on the trailing brake shoe and then hook it onto the adjuster mechanism.
10. Install the rear brake drums on the hubs.
11. Install the wheel and tire assemblies.
12. Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full specified torque of 129 Nm (95 ft. lbs.).
13. Lower vehicle
14. Adjust rear brake shoes. Brake shoes will adjust by fully depressing the brake pedal 2 to 3 times. Brake shoes should now be correctly adjusted and will not require any type of manual adjustment.
15. Road test vehicle.