Ok, I am just a bonehead.

I went back and looked at the job I did on the passenger side from last night... I installed 2 short shoes instead of the one short, one long. Good thing I asked AND checked. In my haste, I didn't really check to see if there was a difference (the Haynes manual didn't tell me to ). Going back I noticed the mistake and luckily (after spending some time on YouTube watching some drum brake videos) it was a piece of cake to disassemble and reassemble.
Funny, all of a sudden, everything fit much better and the lack of "snugness" that I had yesterday was all gone. SOLID!
Did the driver's side tonight, again, not that bad. Then got my 14 yr old to sit in the truck while we flushed 3 containers of DOT3 through the lines.

Took it out for a spin, did the back up braking thing too and lo and behold, I HAVE BRAKES THAT WORK AGAIN

I even now have a parking brake that works too! Imagine that.

Thanks to all for the help along the way. It wasn't as bad as all that. Now next week... fronts!

 

If you can do the rears, the fronts will be a piece of cake. I can do them blindfolded. literally. lol

 

Agreed...disks are a piece of cake. I've done many, many disk brake jobs. Only ones that are a P.I.T.A are those where the rotors are so grooved that you can't get the caliper off them AND those STUPID calipers that you have to turn and compress at the same time...who's stupid idea is that????

Fronts will be next week.....need another paycheque.

 

Right on...glad you got them done proper.

 

Next job for me, anyways,...is getting the truck ready for some winter driving; New BFG Mud Terrain T/A's,..and new U-joints all the way thru.

 

what? WOW

 

WTF? That is crazy.