Found the answer
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Last edited by Bob H.; July 17, 2025, 08:25 PM. -
Yes there is a primary and secondary shoe. The shorter lining goes toward the front of the car.
A new spring kit is always recommended on a 60 year old car. They do lose their spring. The adjusters can expire as well.
Be sure to clean the backing plates and apply a small dab of silicone grease to the three contact points on the shoe to backing plate areas.
Next the flexible lines from the frame to the cylinders(or calipers) are consumable items and should be replaced at a cadence, same for the fluid.
The shoes should be adjusted so they barely make contact with the drum or slightly less. I like to get one full free wheel rotation on the wheel with the shoe adjustment.
Break in the linings and readjust the shoes. Each wheel should be even. It takes a touch and patience. Once adjusted do some heavy braking in reverse about 10-20 feet of distance at a time pumping the pedal 4-5 times to let the adjusters find their own sweet spot. Then recheck the wheel spin and adjust accordingly. Do get the proper tool to activate/deactivate the star wheel.
Drive it for a few miles then recheck. Should check this adjustment every 500ish miles.
Brake fluid should be 100% changed every 5 or so years for DOT 3 & 4. -
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