anyone wanna snap a pic or 2 of both left and right assemblys with the drum off so i can see where the parking strut connects in, as well as to double check everything else

 

No problem DF bud, I'm sure some one here will run out and take them off and get a couple pics! Give us a minute or two though. Number 1 rule, do ONE side at a time. Anyway, a Haynes manual might help you out. Or doing a search here. You might find a thread (and I think there are a couple) for a 97. The hardware did change a little here and there from year to year.

 

thanks man, i hear ya on that one!

 

I know I saw thread's with pic's of the rear drum's, but it was quite a while ago.Might take a while, but I think a search is in order. Maybe some one else will remember where they are or the person(s) that posted them will read this.

 

ok i figured out where the strut goes but now i cant get the shoes centered, the secondary shoe is to far back for the drum to fit over it

 

You have to remove and unscrew the adjusters , clean and grease the threads. Screw them back in all the way(reinstall between the shoes). Then they need to be adjusted properly after the drum is back on. Get a Haynes bud. It really will help you out, a lot better than can be described on a forum.

 

its not the adjuster. im trying the haynes procedure but it doesnt work becuz of the variations in models. it seems that the parking brake strut (which i attached to the parking brake lever and primary brake shoe) is keeping the brake shoes from being as close together as they should be and then the drum wont fit over them

 

Look at this entire thread, there are pics and it's a 97. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ed-urgent.html

 

awesome man, thanks for the help, i got em back together

 

Good deal.