I am doing the brake drums on a 2019 Chevy Trax. I took the drums off, but I am only repairing one at a time to check my work. I’ve watched a few videos, even one similar to my brake setup, so I think everything is correct. I loosened the adjuster to slide the drum on, but that didn’t work, and the emergency brake is off. Can someone give me advice on what I should do?
I use a drum brake adjustment tool.
You use one end to measure the inside diameter of the brake drum,( the one that has the points), and the other end to adjust bake shoes until they touch the tool, (the ones that are flat).
Tester
Will a tape measure work in a pinch if I have to get them on ASAP?
Without that tool I would ‘trial and error’ it by, first, moving the adjuster to its shortest length and confirming the drum fits (if not, you did something wrong during the reassembly, go over it again). I’d take off the drum, make the adjuster longer by some amount, then check. Keep doing this until you can’t get the drum on, then turn in the adjust by half of the last amount, and try again. If it won’t fit, then repeat until it just fits.
1 Like
Are the drums new or are you re-using?
I have usually found that even after the adjusted screw is all the way in you have to basically “massage” the drums into appropriate position. They like to swim around on the backing plate, so it’s a matter of making sure they’re all the way whacked into place and appropriately centered.
Is there a ridge (lip) on the edge of the drum keeping them from going on? Could be simpler to buy new drums if there is.
New shoes and original drum even the new drums won’t fit
1 Like
Even the new ones wont go on
Someone told me to crack the bleeder valve should i try that
If everything was put back together correctly you shouldn’t have to do that.
Tester
1 Like
Anytime I’ve had this happen, it was just because the new shoes weren’t full seated, and just needed to be properly whacked into place. But not with anything hard! I’ve usually just slapped them around with my hands.
The brake shoes must be properly centered, the shoes can be shifted around on the backing plate, they may be too high or too low on the backing plate.
Guess it’s going to be a long night; the price to pay for wanting to play mechanic lol. Ill get it, hopefully.
That’s what I was thinking. Even the videos I’ve seen didn’t do that. Hopefully, after all this messing around, I’ll get it, then I could say I did it and learned something new.
It feels crappy now (been there with car repairs gone sideways…as I think we all have), but if you take your time, maybe walking away to do some thinking as needed, you’ll get it. It likely won’t take long at all for this frustrated feeling to go away, and you’ll be left with the satisfaction of having learned and accomplished something useful for yourself.
1 Like
Have you reviewed the different guides here?
Chevrolet Trax - Repair instructions - Drum Brakes
Is there any leakage/damp areas/seepage from the brake cylinders or elsewhere on the backing plate? Back when drum brakes were common, it was not unusual to have to replace the brake cylinders (if you do one, do them both). But that takes more tools, and then you’ll have to bleed the brakes. Probably better left to a pro in your case.
I get it, but I’ll be honest, I can’t afford a professional right now. But thanks for the website; I’m going to look it over and get back to it in a bit.
Are you sure the vehicle doesn’t have primary and secondary brake shoes?
That’s where the linings on the shoes are two different lengths.
Installing both secondary brake shoes on one side can make reinstalling the drum very difficult.
Tester
I im not i gave the part store my vehicle information its a 2019 chevy trax ls front wheel drive vehicle
Then how are they going to ensure the correct part?