So I just installed my new rear end today. The old stock rear end was shot and I have planned on this for a while. Nothing too Wild, but stepped up to A Limited slip carrier, and 3.42 gear ratio.

Now the stock rear end... Emergency brake didn't work, but the dash Brake light did light up when handle was pulled up. So I wanted to fix this of course while everything was broke down. I tested the cables by pulling the handle, they drew in about an inch, so I figured all was well. Gotta get new cables because the retainer clips going into the drum panel by the axle housing fell off and the cables won't stay in place, and all the parts store show the clip on new cables only. So I'm breaking in the rear end slowly and didn't hook the cables to the bracket inside the drum housing. My dash brake light is on now. Is that normal for light to be on with no cable intact?

Secondly.... With my car jacked up in the rear, and shifted into drive, I let the rear tires spin for 20 minutes and shut it off to cool for 30 minutes. I repeated this process 4 times. Now here's my question. I installed new brake shoes and all the springs while swapping rear ends. I bled the brake lines before moving the car first. When the car is on the jack spinning freely in the rear.... I have to really pump the brakes hard a few times and press really good for the wheels to stop spinning.... Is something not adjusted correctly? I have to spin the spiky roller thing a few times to get the drum housings over the new shoes but I figured it would "click" itself back into position soon. Especially after 4 separate free spins. I'd say I have to push the brake pedal 6-7 times hard to get it to spot finally so I can shift into park. Any suggestions??

I'm going for my first ride tomorrow, and it stops fine in my drive way, but I figured it would stop the wheels faster than that....

 

Sounds like you need to pop your drums off, and adjust the shoes up as far as they can go while still allowing you to put the drums back on.

Keep adjusting em up until you can't get the drums on; then back em off just barely enough.

 

I did that. I had to beat them on with a small hammer. Too tight maybe??

 

Maybe a little; but as long as they went back on, and didn't get bent in the process, they'll just knock a few .001"s off the shoes, and life will be good.

Have to adjust em far? Work better now?

 

I has to spin the spiky roller thing pretty far in to get the drums over the new shoes. The old shoes were worn pretty far down and you could see a lot of threads on the spiky thing. But like I said I had to spin it inwards so you can't see near as many now. I drove today for the first time with the new gears etc. Pedal feels good, like it always did. But it just doesn't stop as good as I think it should.