I just replaced the rear drum shoes and all went well thanks to this writeup:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/ho...kes-d35-45100/

The rear locking up thing is fixed now. The only thing is, since they were hella tight when I took the drums off I put them on tight. What I mean by that is I adjusted that star nut thing so the new shoes were about as tight on the drum as they were when they came off. I had to shove and tap a bit with a mallet for example.

Anyway, now it seems like there might be a little drag from the rear brakes while driving. Like they're contacting the drums a little or something, which makes sense.. but they were like that before without that feeling.

So, is this a problem or will it maybe go away after a few miles?

!Stopping is perfect now. No locking. Nice and smooth. Am I imagining the feeling of a little drag on the engine?

 

There are some significant gaps in that write-up and where is the post installation adjustment?

You can make manual adjustments to the self-adjuster by removing the inspection plug on the back side of the drum.



The self-adjuster should have been screwed down to it's shortest length when the brakes were installed and left that way when you re-installed the drums. There are two ways to adjust the rear drums: Manually, from the inspection port as described above or using the Auto-adjuster which requires reversing > brake, forward > brake repeated 10 times.

 

Nope it was about halfway on both sides. i tried to put it back about where it was.

Auto adjuster? Is that a joke? If so hilarious. If not, is there a link to the full method?

NVM sounds like that is the whole method. Damn, do I have to take the drums off again to adjust those? Frak. Not feeling like getting another special tool.

 

While they do make a tool, you can just use a flat-tipped screwdriver to turn the adjuster through the inspection port.

 

Thanks! But, after driving it a couple days it seems fine now. Should I still try to adjust those or can I leave it alone?

 

If it seems fine, I'd let it be. Jack up a wheel in the rear and turn it by hand. Do you feel much resistance?







Oh, and drum brakes are never really fixed until you replace them with discs

 

Yeah, replacing them is on the list. I think they may even need new drums but I'd rather wait and switch to disc brakes when I lift it.

I already jacked it up again last night, pulled one of the drums off and slapped it on again just to double check my work since it was laaaate when I finished that wheel. No resistance to spinning jacked and the drum came off and went on a easier this time. All seems good. Thanks guys.