I have a 2002 Ram 1500 with 4-wheel disc brakes and everywhere I buy the rear parking brake shoes they have too big of a slot where the springs go and I can't seem to get the springs tight. The slot looks bigger than the factory slot but I have bought shoes from three different places and they are all the same. Does anyone know what I might be doing wrong or is there a trick to this that I'm missing?? HELP!! I've been working on these things for a week and can't seem to get them to work. Has anyone ran into this before? If so, what needs to be done?

 

have you tried compressin the springs with C-clamps and a flat piece of scrap metal?

 

I don't think I was really clear in my original post. The springs that I am talking about go from side to side (right to left) and they are suppose to hold the brake shoes inward toward the center. There are two of them on each axle, one in front and one right behind it on the back side of the shoe. The slot that these springs fit into on the brake shoe that allow the spring to be tight, therefore holding the shoes tight together toward the center, is longer than the original equipment and the spring doesn't get tight. It's like I need a shorter spring but I wouldn't think that should be necessary. Has anyone ever replaced these parking brake shoes before? I would appreciate any help I can get.

 

BigRon5300,

Did you figure the solution out and would like to share?

I am having the same problem where I can't get the disc/drum disc combination over the brake shoes. The star adjuster is in all the way.

I actually used only one of the bottom springs on the outside of the shoes because it was so hard to have both on- it seems as the inner one was in the way of the lever that connected to the mount for the cable hook behind the brake assembly.

Any help would be great!? Please!