Tom Adkins

Didja ever notice that work performed gratis for family is always the the most
frustrating.
I did the rear drum brakes on the sister in laws 97 Taurus. Not rocket science,
although I was surprised to see drums instead of disc like my 98. New linings, drums,
wheel cylinders, and spring kits. Finding the parts was the biggest hassle. NAPA
didn't stock any of the parts, one place had shoes but no drums, etc. The first set of
linings didn't even make it to the car the quality was so bad. Had to settle for cheap
linings from Advance Auto Parts, drums from Auto Zone, springs and cylinders from Car
Quest.
Finally got it buttoned up and the brakes were fine........for a while. The next day
they started making a ticking noise when applied.(Right side) It slowed with the
vehicle occuring once per revolution. Almost like the lining was walking away from the
backing plate then snapping back. Couldn't feel anything in the pedal.
Inspection showed nothing unusual. Swapped the drums side to side, now the noise was
coming from both sides. Hmmmm, maybe one of the drums has runout. Exchanged both drums
and the noise went away....for a day.
Reinspection found the lining material a little loose on the rivets. Exchanged
linings and had the parts store make a light cut on the drums to renew the surface.
Brakes were great.....till the next day. The damn ticka, ticka, ticka is back.
Visually I can see absolutely nothing wrong. The wear pattern on the drums is what you
would expect, as is the pattern on the linings. The return and hold down springs are
properly installed and are the correct parts. The hubs are running true, no play or
runout. No signs of overheating. Everything looks and feels perfect.
I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions.

 

johanb

Got those plastic wheelcovers ?? try driving without them


"Tom Adkins" <newton5@remove.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:pKednfFRDbp-F9jenZ2dnUVZ_s6dnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Didja ever notice that work performed gratis for family is always the
the most
> frustrating.
> I did the rear drum brakes on the sister in laws 97 Taurus. Not rocket
science,
> although I was surprised to see drums instead of disc like my 98. New
linings, drums,
> wheel cylinders, and spring kits. Finding the parts was the biggest
hassle. NAPA
> didn't stock any of the parts, one place had shoes but no drums, etc. The
first set of
> linings didn't even make it to the car the quality was so bad. Had to
settle for cheap
> linings from Advance Auto Parts, drums from Auto Zone, springs and
cylinders from Car
> Quest.
> Finally got it buttoned up and the brakes were fine........for a while.
The next day
> they started making a ticking noise when applied.(Right side) It slowed
with the
> vehicle occuring once per revolution. Almost like the lining was walking
away from the
> backing plate then snapping back. Couldn't feel anything in the pedal.
> Inspection showed nothing unusual. Swapped the drums side to side, now
the noise was
> coming from both sides. Hmmmm, maybe one of the drums has runout.
Exchanged both drums
> and the noise went away....for a day.
> Reinspection found the lining material a little loose on the rivets.
Exchanged
> linings and had the parts store make a light cut on the drums to renew the
surface.
> Brakes were great.....till the next day. The damn ticka, ticka, ticka is
back.
> Visually I can see absolutely nothing wrong. The wear pattern on the drums
is what you
> would expect, as is the pattern on the linings. The return and hold down
springs are
> properly installed and are the correct parts. The hubs are running true,
no play or
> runout. No signs of overheating. Everything looks and feels perfect.
> I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions.

Tom Adkins

johanb wrote:
> Got those plastic wheelcovers ?? try driving without them
>
>

Tried it, no help. The noise is a loud tick, actually closer to a clack. I'm pretty
sure the shoes are pulling away from the backing plate and snapping back, I just don't
know why. I can duplicate the noise by pulling out on the brake shoe and letting go.

I spoke to my brother and told him to just order premium shoes and a set of drums
from NAPA. He can deal with the dimestore parts as he sees fit.

Bob

"Tom Adkins" <newton5@remove.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Vp-dnae2EYa_cNjeRVn-jg@comcast.com...
> johanb wrote:
>> Got those plastic wheelcovers ?? try driving without them
>>
>
> Tried it, no help. The noise is a loud tick, actually closer to a clack.
> I'm pretty sure the shoes are pulling away from the backing plate and
> snapping back, I just don't know why. I can duplicate the noise by pulling
> out on the brake shoe and letting go.
>
> I spoke to my brother and told him to just order premium shoes and a set
> of drums from NAPA. He can deal with the dimestore parts as he sees fit.

No doubt cheap parts are the problem.... it never fails... try to save
someone a buck and you may as well bend over and grab your ankles. When all
is said and done you've worked countless hours for nothing and still have a
pissed off relative or customer. Been there done that to many times.....
Bob

Tom Adkins

Bob wrote:
>
> No doubt cheap parts are the problem.... it never fails... try to save
> someone a buck and you may as well bend over and grab your ankles. When all
> is said and done you've worked countless hours for nothing and still have a
> pissed off relative or customer. Been there done that to many times.....
> Bob
>
>

I hear that. Actually, the cheap parts weren't by choice. The old brakes were
wasted. Nobody had the parts in stock, It took 4 hours to find what we got at 4
different stores.
Ya think they'll be pissed enough to take the car somewhere else next time? I can
only hope ;)

MasterBlaster

"Tom Adkins" wrote

> Tried it, no help. The noise is a loud tick, actually closer to a clack. I'm pretty
> sure the shoes are pulling away from the backing plate and snapping back, I just don't
> know why. I can duplicate the noise by pulling out on the brake shoe and letting go.

Brake lathe makes a spiral cut on the inner surface, like threads inside a nut.
Shoes are being "unscrewed" from the backing plate.
Maybe have them recut on super-slow speed so the surface is smoother?

Shoe Salesman

"MasterBlaster" <Nobody's.Home@My.Place> wrote in message
news:Aar1f.9433$yS6.7994@clgrps12...
>
> "Tom Adkins" wrote
>
>> Tried it, no help. The noise is a loud tick, actually closer to a clack.
>> I'm pretty
>> sure the shoes are pulling away from the backing plate and snapping back,
>> I just don't
>> know why. I can duplicate the noise by pulling out on the brake shoe and
>> letting go.
>
> Brake lathe makes a spiral cut on the inner surface, like threads inside a
> nut.
> Shoes are being "unscrewed" from the backing plate.
> Maybe have them recut on super-slow speed so the surface is smoother?

Every brake lathe I've used cuts from the inside out, so it would screw the
shoes in toward the backing plate. Could still make a noise though.
Are there any wear marks on the backing plate where the shoes rub on it? If
so grind them down to smooth them out a bit. Are you positive you installed
the shoes/spings correctly? Did you adjust them up good? Are the front and
rear shoes the same so they can be installed either way? If so, put the shoe
with the longest friction material on the rear. Good luck.

Bob

"Shoe Salesman" <someone@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:Ahw1f.601$k77.407@tornado.socal.rr.com...
>
> "MasterBlaster" <Nobody's.Home@My.Place> wrote in message
> news:Aar1f.9433$yS6.7994@clgrps12...
>>
>> "Tom Adkins" wrote
>>
>>> Tried it, no help. The noise is a loud tick, actually closer to a clack.
>>> I'm pretty
>>> sure the shoes are pulling away from the backing plate and snapping
>>> back, I just don't
>>> know why. I can duplicate the noise by pulling out on the brake shoe and
>>> letting go.
>>
>> Brake lathe makes a spiral cut on the inner surface, like threads inside
>> a nut.
>> Shoes are being "unscrewed" from the backing plate.
>> Maybe have them recut on super-slow speed so the surface is smoother?
>
> Every brake lathe I've used cuts from the inside out, so it would screw
> the shoes in toward the backing plate.

That would only be true on one side of the car, on the other side the drum
would screw the shoes out away from the backing plate. I have my doubts that
this is the problem but it is a possibility.
Bob

Shoe Salesman

"Bob" <bob@n0spam.net> wrote in message news:1LC1f.2646$Ue7.662@fe03.lga...
>
> "Shoe Salesman" <someone@microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:Ahw1f.601$k77.407@tornado.socal.rr.com...
>>
>> "MasterBlaster" <Nobody's.Home@My.Place> wrote in message
>> news:Aar1f.9433$yS6.7994@clgrps12...
>>>
>>> "Tom Adkins" wrote
>>>
>>>> Tried it, no help. The noise is a loud tick, actually closer to a
>>>> clack. I'm pretty
>>>> sure the shoes are pulling away from the backing plate and snapping
>>>> back, I just don't
>>>> know why. I can duplicate the noise by pulling out on the brake shoe
>>>> and letting go.
>>>
>>> Brake lathe makes a spiral cut on the inner surface, like threads inside
>>> a nut.
>>> Shoes are being "unscrewed" from the backing plate.
>>> Maybe have them recut on super-slow speed so the surface is smoother?
>>
>> Every brake lathe I've used cuts from the inside out, so it would screw
>> the shoes in toward the backing plate.
>
> That would only be true on one side of the car, on the other side the drum
> would screw the shoes out away from the backing plate. I have my doubts
> that this is the problem but it is a possibility.
> Bob
>
Ah yes, good point, I think you are right that its not likely the cause of
the noise....but could be. I would think if it was, a short stop and go
driving would smooth them out enough to stop that kind of problem but
stranger things have happened.