DavyZ Posted August 18, 2006 Share Posted August 18, 2006 I know, it's not a Z, but I have some issues with my '95 Chevy Suburban brakes. I have not changed the rear shoes in the 2.5 years I have owned the truck. I changed everything today, but noticed that the right rear drum heats up like crazy (smells bad & lotsa heat) after a 5 mile freeway cruise. There is no binding and the thing stops fine. No squeeling or anything, but heat & smell from the right rear drum. When I took all the brakes apart, the left front pads were more worn and so were the right rear shoes than the others. I suspect that the truck had the problem before I bought it, but I have intensified the problem with the new shoes. Anyone have something similar happen to them and what did you do about it? I have never had something like this happen so I'm not sure what's up. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjhines Posted August 18, 2006 Share Posted August 18, 2006 I have a 1999 model truck Z71 4x4... I also have owned a 1998 Suburban 4x4 3/4ton... it had the same crappy brakes.. they are MUSHY as hell.. and it feels(has resistance) like you are pushing the pedal into playdough... I can't remember the procedure the last time I changed rear shoes on one of the trucks... but as I recall there is an adjuster wheel in there that needs to be reset for new shoes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted August 18, 2006 Author Share Posted August 18, 2006 Thanks BJ, I know about the adjuster wheel. I had to screw it down to create enough space so that the drum could be slid on. Perhaps it needs to be screwed down all the way?? I'm really at a loss with this problem. I can't seem to figure it out. I'm nearly 100% sure that I installed everything correctly. I don't think I FUBARed anything in particular. It's almost like a the cable (if it were cable actuated; it's not--it's hydraulic) to that side is shorter or something. Grrrrr. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbc3 Posted August 18, 2006 Share Posted August 18, 2006 Check the emergency brake cable and make sure it is not hanging and binding. I have had that happen with my 92 3/4 ton Sub and the one rear drum would drag enough to heat up the drum and wheel.. and smell, but it was hardly noticable when driving as far as pulling the truck or stopping. I readjusted the brakes several times before I figured out what was causing the problem. Especially because the problem was somewhat intermittant. Jody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted August 18, 2006 Author Share Posted August 18, 2006 Check the emergency brake cable and make sure it is not hanging and binding. Jody Jody, I'll do that this morning. My wife doesn't feel safe travelling in the truck (we're supposed to have left this morning already). I'll be working on the truck while I deal with a muscle spasm in my back (I think I pulled something yesterday doing the brakes). Anyway, thanks for the suggestions, guys!! Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted August 18, 2006 Author Share Posted August 18, 2006 Update: I cancelled out trip to So Cal. I'm in too much pain from the back spasms. On the upside, I think that with the two suggestions from BJ and Jody that I have the problem solved. The handbrake cable was slightly re-routed for the tubular Westin step rails. I think that is where the real problem is (I wonder who installed them ) Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted September 6, 2006 Author Share Posted September 6, 2006 Update: I ended up putting even more slack into the hand brake/emergency brake adjustment cable that runs along the frame rail to the back. This completely solved the problem. This also makes me wonder who adjusted the cable originally and why---makes no sense to me at all. Thanks BJ & Jody for the help! Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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