i took my rims off the other day to check things out since i'm gonna be replacing stuff on my rear drums in a couple days and i noticed that one side grabs a lot more than the other with the parking brake on. as in when i had the car on jacks and the parking brake on, one wheel could turn and the other could not... is that a problem with the tension in the cables being different or more with the braking hardware itself.

i'm gonna be replacing both wheel cylinders, all 4 shoes, and having the drums resurfaced... you guys think it's just stuff being worn down unevenly? there's still pad left on both sides but the brake shop was telling me that the cylinders were leaking a little.

You can adjust how close the shoes are to the inside of the drum also. You probably just need to turn the little piece so that it makes them closer to the drum when you put it back on. Dont have to take the shoes off, just adjust the 'thingy' between them. sorry for the technical words. :D

lol ok i'll look for the adjustment thingy...
wasn't sure exactly whether the two sides were independantly adjustable. (i know you can adjust the cable in the center console but that does both sides at once). anyone know if adjusting the thingy only affects the tension when the parking brake's applied or if it'll affect regular braking as well? it shouldn't right? (regular braking should only be affect by the proportioning valve an stuff)

I thought the parking brake only locked one of the rear wheels?


1998 Eclipse GS

Originally posted by bono316
I thought the parking brake only locked one of the rear wheels?

lol really? that might explain it...
haha anyone know?

Originally posted by MCubed45

Originally posted by bono316 I thought the parking brake only locked one of the rear wheels?

lol really? that might explain it... haha anyone know?

That's how my old 93 Crustang was - it also had drum brakes on the rear. It's possible...anyone else??


1998 Eclipse GS

ok weird thing is i took everything back off tonite and both sides seems to grab now... before i had to step on the rim on the driver's side to hold it so i could take off the lug nuts (if not the wheel would spin). tonite both rear wheels were fine without me stepping on them... how strange.. still had to step on the front wheels of course though :P

Yes the parking brake engages both rear wheels. (Hence the cables going to the back of each drum assembly).