How much resistance should there be on the rear shoes when turning them by hand? Should they make one revolution, two or just half? I though I saw somewhere it should just make one full revolution. I assume you would use moderate force when spinning them.

I think I need to readjust mine and want to make sure I have the correct initial resistance since they will self adjust some later.

When I first put them on I adjusted them to where the drum slid over the shoes fairly easy but that might have been too loose.

 

Ive never heard of a revolution rule
what I was taught in tech school is you can either A) get the tool that you set to the drum size then you flip it over and use it to set the shoes
or
B) set them just tight enough that when rotating by hand you hear a slight drag and feel it but it shouldn't take effort to turn and you should.be able to install and remove the drum by hand

 

I tried the tool and it was worthless. I measured the inside diameter of the drum and then flipped it over to transfer the measurement to the shoes and when I did, I couldn't get the drum on the shoes. I even backed them off a little to give some clearance so something was not calibrated correctly with the tool. I ended up doing it by hand and I either didn't get them close enough or adjusted them too close to the drums which caused the drum to glaze a little.

I'll just make sure I can spin them with slight resistance to where they make about one revolution (saw that on a DIY somewhere online). I tried the get on the GM service manuals posted in the forums to see what it says but I don't have access anymore.

 

I really don't know about this revolution thing, cause when your spinning the rear drum on a truck your turning the axle, diff AND other side (with a drum on) and if it was a ford with the clutch pack diff you could barely even spin the tire let alone do a revolution freely

 

I found a service manual and it says to tighten the starwheel until you can barely turn the wheel by hand and then back off the starwheel 20 turns.

I'm going to try that and see how it feels but I'm not real sure how I can know if I've turned it back 20 clicks since I can't even see in the access hole. I'll probably just end up winging it.

 

setting the drums really isnt to technical, if the pedal feels low (or e brake is low) then you know to adjust it a little tighter

 

I set it to just loose enough to slide the drum on. Never had an issue with any of the trucks ive done.

 

Whats this self adjusting thing you speak of lol. I do em to where theres a slight drag on the drum n done.