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#1 11-07-2011 09:33:12

nirra
Lurker
Registered: 04-17-2009
Posts: 2

Rear brake shoe return springs

I have a 98 Cherokee Sport with rear drum brakes.

Let me start off by saying that these are the first drum brakes that I have ever worked on.

Also let me say that I sometimes don't make the best of decisions.

Case in point.

The shoe return springs on the passenger side broke.

Like an idiot I started on the drivers side....now I don't have a model do look at to compare.

Could someone either explain or show me a photo of where the shoe return springs fit.  I cannot figure this out, and well I guess an hour and a half is just too long ago for me to remember what it looked like.

Thank you very much for your help and I apologize for my stupidity.

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11-07-2011 09:33:12

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Re: Rear brake shoe return springs

#2 11-07-2011 09:39:39

stevil
Enthusiast
Registered: 04-29-2009
Posts: 112

Re: Rear brake shoe return springs

I assume that by now you have gotten new springs.  did you get a brake spring tool too?  If you didn't, get one at sears or an auto parts store.  It will save you a lot of grief.  There is a washer that goes over the stud to separate the springs from the brake shoes.  Make sure it is on.  then take the short hook  end and while holding the spring pointing down insert the end in a hole about 2/3 the way up on the web of the shoe.  put it all the way in and  rotate the long end up toward the stud.  then use the brake tool by putting it through the hook on the long end and then hooking it over the stud and then stretching the spring until it slides down the tool and hooks around the stud.  repeat the process for the other side.

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#3 11-07-2011 19:36:24

evad
Enthusiast
Registered: 10-05-2008
Posts: 136

Re: Rear brake shoe return springs

Ahhh you have learned the first lesson about rear brakes, do one at a time
young grasshopper! ;-)
I also leave one assembled so I can study it if needed!

You want a picture like this?
http://www.myjeepxj.com/uploads/images/ … %20147.jpg

Remember that the shoes are different too, leading and trailing!


Check out my Jeep Cherokee

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#4 11-07-2011 19:39:25

nirra
Lurker
Registered: 04-17-2009
Posts: 2

Re: Rear brake shoe return springs

Thanks for all the responses.  The mail takes so long that I have had the brakes done.  Works fine.

My kit came with 2 extra springs that I could not figure out.  Since the brakes work and I did not have one on the side that was not broken I assume that they are used on earlier models or the line person whom bagged my hardware kit was on crack.

Once again thanks for the help.

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#5 11-07-2011 19:47:30

Wuzzup
Newbie
Registered: 04-12-2009
Posts: 6

Re: Rear brake shoe return springs

I had extra springs, too, and came to the same conclusion.

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