Rear drum brake "skidding"

[hufhouse]

1996 Pontiac Grand Am SE

I've noticed that the driver's side rear drum brake seems to skid on gravel or wet pavement. It seems to be braking harder than the other three wheels.

I looked at it, and can't see anything obvious, other than the fact that one brake shoe looks like it's worn more than the other. That got me thinking that maybe the brake cylinder might only be pushing on one side, pushing with double force against one shoe. That's a total guess. Might not even be possible.

Any ideas?

[hufhouse]

The shoes come in two different thicknesses when new?

[xeroinfinity]

yeah huf the shoes are two different lengths.
Sounds like a bad wheel cylinder, if you replace one side, Id go ahead and replace the other or its likly to do the same thing on the other side. It is usualy the pass rear tire that grabs.

Also flush the brake lines thuroughly, that old/dirty fluid can cause weak braking.

Hope that helps!

[grfnkl]

you probably need new springs in your rear drum. the only other thing I can think of would be the caliper is sticking.

[doctorhrdware]

Are all brake shoes like that. I never knew that they were like that. When I was in high school I change brakes on a Grand fury and put the shoes on. Did not pay attention to if the shoes were different.

[Godofwarmike]

no not all brake shoes are like that. the ones on my sisters 95 buick lesabre are both the same. but the ones on my dodge neon are different sizes. not sure about pontiacs the one i had, had 4 wheel disk brakes.


Check the adjustment of the other drum it might be stuck keeping the shoes from even touching the drum. also look for leaks in the wheel cylinders. it doesnt have to leak much to keep the brakes from working on that drum.