I rebuilt my back right brake after having trouble with it, but it turns out that it was binding because of a worn axle shaft bearing.
I replaced the shoes and the drums because there was gear oil inside & the weights fell off the drums. It turns out the drums are not out of round. Oh well.
Since I haven't seen a drum brake in 15 years or more I had some problems the first time I put the brake together while trying to figure out why it was binding. I did not grease it properly nor did I work the adjuster. I did not bother to adjust the parking brake lever either. The brake did not work and made a lot of noise.
I also could not get the shoe/drum clearance right with the worn axle bearing.
It is a little tricky to get the brake drum off if you have never done it before but it's worth a look. You have to manipulate the adjuster to loosen it a little. You can see the toothed wheel if you shine a light into the hole. To find the release lever poke just forward of and below the tooth wheel and you will eventually find it - it's a springy lever that moves 1/2 inch or so. If you keep going and loosen it more then you can just pull the drum off with your hands, and not bother pressing it off with m8 bolts.
After putting the drum on the brake is not ready for service until you work the parking brake until the adjuster stops clicking. If you push the pedal before doing this the adjuster can fall out. Work the lever by hand then mount the wheel. Then get in the cab and operate the handle. Then mash the pedal and operate the handle a few more times.
Gasket between axle flange/drum 42444-35050
Shoes 04495-35230 (kit) / Drum 42431-35210 (each)
(Both the shoes and the drum are revised/superseded part numbers from the time the truck was manufactured)
If anyone wants to hunt for the OEM on the aftermarket, the whole brake is made by aisin and the shoe material is "NBK LN508-FF"
Brembo also makes drums, their number is 21080.
"Performance/Quality" brake shoes are hard to find, shoes seem to be commodity items. The only name brand shoes available that I ever heard of were Wagner Thermo Quiet. Who makes NAPA's?
