Hi everyone, new to this forum and hoping I can get some help with a problem I'm having. I own a 1997 Stratus work car and my rear brake shoes continue to be ground down to metaland I'm at a loss as to what is causing the problem but it seems as if the shoes are not retracting. I have replaced on thepassenger and driver side the drums, shoes, springs and wheel cylinders and I have replaced the master cylinder, still the problem exists. I had the adjusters inspected by the local dealer's service shop to see if that was the problem and was told the adjusters were fine. I don't know what else tocheck out besides the vacuume booster.

 

Have you checked the e-brake?

 

Yes, check the e-brake and cable. I had mine seize up on me during travel - that was fun. I ended up having to disconnect it after realizing that I couldn't get the drum back on with it connected. It must have been pulling on it just enough to spread the shoes out.

 

E-brake checked. I disconnected the cable as well to see if it was the root cause and same thing happened, shoes got ground to metal within 2 weeks.Even prior to disconnecting I had rarely if ever used it. Could there be issues with the vacuume booster that would cause a problem like this. I have no issues with the front brake, they work fine.

 

have you done the rear hoses yet? because it is VERY common for the hoses to deteriorate on the inside and let pressure in when the brakes are applied but not allow the rear brakes to release, causing rapid wear

 

Thanks Superstrat, your the second person that has mentioned that and no I have not done that. Considering mine has about 177,000 miles it may be a good idea to do this.