Well after replacing everything on my rear drum brakes I believe I have the dubious distinction of being a Drum Brake Expert.

I had to completely re & re the shoes and every freaking spring and widget attached to the backing plate twice now. Once last Saturday fixing the Drag Day f*ck-up -- only to find the real reason two days later brake cylinders went bad and were now leaking... on my brand new shoes...

So off everything came again and the new cylinders are in. The book says 1 hour per side I took two -- typical. The new shoes turned out to be ok. I didn't get aluminum drums this time -- GM has them for $180 a piece hahahahahaha morons. Paid $50 for first line cast units. Took the car out for a spin and HEY the brakes work great !

You know what the worst part of this adventure was ? I had the car off the road for two days and had to drive my Toyota Tercel. It was torture I tell you ! Now I am not sure if I can be away from my Firebird for a whole winter (I am parking it in October). I think I went through some kind of withdrawal pains ? Unexpected.

adious,
RP.

 

you have gotta love the toyota tercel, that ranks up there with my old winter beater, a suzuki swift ( I got 4 years out of that). Now I got my delta, and dare I say I actually enjoy driving that tank about as much as the camaro (its a differnt type of thing but still cool)

 

I blew my cylinder on the 400 at 2 am in the morning.. didn't think too much of it since it was so late and the only effect I noticed was a sticky brake... until the next afternoon when it siezed on me in rush hour traffic... pure skills kept me alive that day lol...

I've done the re and re thing on drums quite a few times... not a fun task, but its worth putting the extra coin and time to make it work right...

I drove a cherokee today.. no offense Sinoed and I had withdrawal symptoms after a few hrs... too high up.. made me feel queezy... no acceleration.. gawd...

 

Well the way I see it you could...
1. Buy a plymouth laser/eagle talon or subaru impreza
2. Take up severe alcoholism and drink yourself unconcious every night (sad but surely true, the most common way of dealing with no f-body in the winter)

 

palric, get a Grand Prix GTP for a winter car, and you won't miss too much speed

 

Hahahaha Nathan -- ok, imagine two scenes:

1) it's snowing and I'm in a GTP which is in a ditch upside down...

2) it's snowing and I'm driving by in my Tercel and see someone in a GTP in a ditch upside down I, of course, stop to lend a hand.

Hahaha... Nate if I had a GTP (in winter) I'd be a magnet for ditches and sidewalks I'd spin out everywhere what am I going to do with that kinda power on snow and ice ? Crash.

Thx but I'll stick to my 98HP Tercel I go no where fast but atleast I get there.

haha,
RP.

 

I rather go slow in the snow..Although I have no problem with traction in my 86 Suburban

Daz