Front Brakes vs. Drums

[tko123]

Stumped on my '66 Bug front brakes.

Driver Side
Installing new cylinder, shoes, and drum. The shoes fit the inner curve of the drum perfectly. The adjusters are adjusted all the way down and slanted correctly, the cylinders are completely compressed, and the shoes are centered. I've been at it for hours over days and the drums won't go on all the way over the shoes and there is a clearance issue. I used a mirror to confirm that the shoes are centered and evenly meeting the drums with no gaps on either side- centered.

Passenger Side
Same as driver side but using the old drum. This drum installs but it won't turn.

I read Bentley, Muir, and just about every post I can find. Stumped.
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'90 Vanagon
'72 Squareback
'66 Bug
VSC706

[KTPhil]

Wrong shoes, maybe? Check the ends that fit into the adjusters and slave cylinders... straight or beveled?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=608938

Also check if the leading and trailing edges of the lining are beveled.

A photo of your backing plate with all hardware installed may help us.

[EVfun]

[tko123]

Negative, the slots are set correctly. Quadruple checked it.
_________________
'90 Vanagon
'72 Squareback
'66 Bug
VSC706

[KTPhil]

The pistons on the wheel cylinder are not retracted in that photo. The boots will be folded on themselves when the pistons are fully retracted. Loosen the bleeder screw, and then push the pistons together with a pair of channel-locks. Then fit the shoes and see if the drum will fit.

Also, I can't see the shoe ends to tell if the bevel matches the rest of the hardware.

[tko123]

I was hoping it was something obvious. I thought I compressed the cylinders all the way but probably not. I'll try to channel locks.
_________________
'90 Vanagon
'72 Squareback
'66 Bug
VSC706

[bluebus86]

[Cusser]

I've always found that when installing new brake shoes that the drums BARELY fit on. I have to get the shoes like exactly centered, tapping on them with a wooden handle as I watch from under the VW looking at the drum/brake lining interface. Yes, it can be a little bit of a hassle.

I have to say that I have never yet had to open a bleeder valve to get the wheel cylinder pistons to retract, but I think that is a very good idea. But when I change the brake shoes I do not usually combine with a brake bleeding, which of course would be needed this way.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[Dr OnHolliday]

[60ragtop]

If you have new drums also, the shoes need to be centered. It almost looks like you have over sized shoes? but could be the angle.
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

[KTPhil]

[rockerarm]

Hi.
Yes, the brake lining on the two shoes does appear to be thicker than what I recall. Why not remove the shoes from the backing plate and see if the drum will slide onto the spindle/wheel bearings.
Normally, one does not need to exert any force to compress the pistons, in the wheel cyl's, as the larger return spring is pretty capable of returning the piston to its retracted position. But, opening the bleeder and verifying the pistons are retracted is a good idea. Is there a lip on the drum preventing it from sliding over the shoes? What is the origin of your parts? As this could be a factor here.
While not really applicable to VW mechanic's many older cars would require the use of a brake shoe/drum venier that allowed the mech to measure the drum and adjust the shoe adjuster to allow the shoes to be relatively close to the drum surface.
Hope this helps, Bill.

[Eric&Barb]

[tko123]

Ok, I bought new shoes from my local VW shop and yep that was the problem. She's works perfectly now. I'm learning a bunch and finally get to move this project forward.

Thanks!
_________________
'90 Vanagon
'72 Squareback
'66 Bug
VSC706

[Cusser]

[tko123]

Nope, no photos. I set the correct ones over the old ones and they almost matched up. The old ones were about 3/8" longer than the correct ones but just enough to throw everything off in terms of fit. It was odd. They were the same shape just a bit longer.
_________________
'90 Vanagon
'72 Squareback
'66 Bug
VSC706