First drum brake job, 2 questions..

[dkraven]

First, have a floating axle I took out so I could take my drum off, don’t plan on redoing any bearings, should I shove grease into any parts of the axle hub before putting it back?

Second, I can’t figure out how to get the spring on the replacement self adjuster I bought. It’s a really tight spring and there has to be a trick to it. Part of the problem is the small metal piece that goes on the back of the adjuster plate and hooks the spring is really hard to keep under tension as it flops around. I do have drum brake tools but how they might help with this I don’t know.

 

[Turbo4whl]

The trick is put that spring on first. Shoes off the truck on the ground or table. Swing one shoe over the other and slide in the adjuster. Now hang the two shoes up and on the anchor pin. Add the rest of the parts.

 

[Turbo4whl]

Second way is, vise grips locked on the long straight part of the adjuster spring. Then palm of your hand on the shoe, pull the vise grip over and hook the spring. I like the first way I posted better.

 

[legopnuematic]

No grease in a full floating hub. Just gear oil.