Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

Wheel will turn freely if the axle nut is loose. If I tighten it, it won't turn. I don't mean if I torque it to specs. If I tighten it just a little more than finger tight, it won't turn.

Here the back story. New drums, old hub. New wheel bearing, seal & snap ring. Service and e-brake rods disconnected. Adjusting wedge backed out all the way. Everything brake wise is new.

Car is up on jack stands. Running in third gear, hand throttle set for 35 mph on the speedo. All is well until I tighten the axle nut. Yes, I stop it first before tightening. Right rear is fine.

What's putting it in a bind?

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

I would pull it off and see if the side of the shoes are rubbing on the drum or the drum
is hitting the backing plate.

Bob

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

probably worn axle taper shoving the drum too far on and binding everything.

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

tighten nut to where the wheel is hard to turn, force turn the wheel then pull it and look for places that have a wear mark on it, backing plate, inside of the drum or marks on the brake shoes

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

Try adding a tapered shim to the axle shaft. Suppliers sell them, or you can make one out of a soda can. Wear on the axle taper or the inside of the drum hub is allowing the drum to go on too far and the drum is rubbing the backing plate or the outboard edge of the shoes.

Tom Endy

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

Thanks for the replies. I ordered the axle shims. I have some shim stock, I'll cut one today and see if that fixes it.

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

i have seen 2 shims used on one side without issue
ck to see whats rubbing first

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

Hub worn to limits, I always buy new drum and hub assemblies when doing a brake restoration.
Mike

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

Did you have this problem with the old drums and hubs ? Or is this with new drums and new to this car old hubs ?
Besides the info just given by the fellas, there was a recent post about new studs making contact requiring some judicial grinding to fix the problem.

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

Yep, hitting the backing plate. Saw the rub mark; just one place about an inch. Thanks.

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

Didn't have the problem with the old drums. Same hub; new drum.
"studs making contact...grinding to fix" that was me.

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

I've seen several backing plates with the bottom bent or badly worn, like the car fell off the jack or the wheel came off while driving.

If your's is rubbing at the bottom, maybe the backing plate just needs to be tapped back a little.

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

Try not to use axle shims. If you can see where it's rubbing follow Tom's advise. Last resort, grind a little off backplate rubbing area. For final rubbing check, push drum in as you rotate and listen. Back off adjuster when checking.

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

Also, with final assembly, make sure axle and hub tapers are grease free. Use lacquer thinner or acetone or brake cleaner with a clean rag, not paper towel.
And thanks again for the measurement help.

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

I agree with Tom . Make sure your backing plate is seated, tight, and not bent . The use of a shoe centering gauge can help you determine if the backing plate is not right . Try and determine if that's the problem. If all is well shim the axle/Hub with a shim if necessary .
Backing plates take a lot of abuse over the years.

Hopefully you can resolve easily
Larry Shepard

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

Facing the backing plate from the brake shoe side, it's rubbing at the 10 o'clock position. While I'm waiting for the axle shims I'll try tapping it out and grind a little off the edge of the drum.

I sent the backing plates to one of our vendors to have new roller tracks installed. Something may have happened then:confused:

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

If it were mine, I wouldn't grind anything until I tried the axle shim.

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

I had a drum rub on my parking brake shoe. But yours with rubbing on the backing plate is a little different. Again as said above, Tom's advise looks good to me but after fixing the rub on the backing plate, and if you have it rub also on the parking brake, then your shims work well to fix this problem. Good luck.

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

Problem fixed! "Tapped" out the backing plate in the area it was rubbing.
Thanks to all for your replies and pointing me in the right direction.

While it was running, I made an observation. It will be in a new thread.

Re: Left Rear Wheel Won't turn
 

Glad to hear the fix was easy.
If shims had been needed to correct for a worn taper, I wouldn't be afraid to use one or two shims.