Early Model (87-89) rear brakes - PITA

1512 Views 5 Replies 3 Participants Last post by chops, Jun 9, 2008

randyre

Discussion Starter · May 24, 2008

Early Model rear drum brake shoes and wheel cylinders appear to be different than any of the other model years. What a pain. I was doing a rear brake replacement and went to get new shoes and they told me they had to order them, I said really, they should be the same a a million other GM cars and vans.

Well when they came in we compared them to a set for a on the shelf and they are a bit diferent. See the pic

:link:

Now on to the wheel cylinders. Another PITA, they do not follow the same year break as the shoes do. Basically it says that a 1985 and 1986 use this and nothing else in the entire GM fleet. Also notice the long tab on the upper picture, well seems that is needed on the wheel cylinders they have for the 87-89 but not before or after those years., but the shoes I have don't have them and the current wheel cylinders I have would not accept the tabs either, and sicne 1985-86 wheels cylinder need to be ordered, whe looked at 1991 and I decided they where close enough.

So why did GM change the braks on the 87-89 and them went back, also any reason the 1991 should not work? I looked at master cylinders for those years and found that they are the same for 85-94, s I figure any wheel cylinder shoes set that matches up should be fine.

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randyre

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 25, 2008

OK, now go figure. We looked up every other part for a 91 and it was the same as for the 86, the Drum, shoes, adjuster, evrything was the same exept the cylinder, so we figure should be a no brainer. WRONG :confused1: After its all assembled you cannot get the drum over the shoes. So I removed the 91 cylinder, replaced the old cylinder, and it went together smooth as butter. How could one component make a difference when everything else is the same?

Anyhow, seems the 91 cylinder is about 1/8 in bigger on the body and it his the shoes before they are fully seated at the top and that makes a difference. still don't get how all other parts can be the same for both years and the cylinders nare not interchangeable, but anyhow, finally went to Carquest and they had 86 cylinders in stock at about triple the price as Autozone and Shucks, but hey project is gettin' completed. :banana:

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randyre

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 25, 2008

I agree, its almost the VW bug of the Chevy world.

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