2001 Cherokee brake issue

[drpaul87]

I need some help!!!! About a month ago, I had a set of rear shoes crack and get stuck. Drove home, drum reallllly hot, brakes sorta sezied and let go when cool. Pulled the drum and changed the shoes (only one side failed). Pulled the other side to check the shoes and they look good, more than half thickness. Ever since it happened, I have had a clunk in the rear when applying brakeds. It sound as if there is a bad brake cylinder, but they were replaced last year (both sides). Jeep has 106,000 on it, and original drums. Could they just be done, and need replacing? It also seems to be much worse in the rain, and they will sometimes clunk hard when braking from low speed (like searching for a parking spot)
Thank you to any and all for the help.
Paul

[fredjacksonsan]

I'd check the alignment and position of all the pieces; drum brakes, if installed incorrectly, will make noise when they shift as you apply the brakes. By shift, I mean that as they are applied and contact the drum, they will slide in the direction of rotation. Some of this is normal when reversing, but if they're doing it every time moving forward, then something's not installed correctly.

Also, if the drum got really hot there are two things: 1) the springs are not pulling the shoes away from the drum for some reason and 2) your drum is likely warped and done.

All of these point to improperly installed brakes. Have them checked, or check them yourself.

[avmx]

next time this happens, stop and cycle the parking brake handle several times. See if this stops the clunking. If it does the brakes may need adjustment. I had the same problem on my 97 xj. 220k miles.