I noticed when I first bought my 70 Malibu that it pulls to the left a little when I brake (drum brakes all around). So I checked it out, and the secondary shoe on the front driver side brake is about half the size of the primary shoe. Know what I mean? If I replace the secondary shoe, that should stop the pulling right? Could something else be causing this? Thanks.

The primary shoe is always smaller than the secondary. I believe you have them on backwards. Reversing them should fix your problem. Good luck...

------------------
Frank
69-454-456
Gold Member # 216

One shoe is ussally thicker and longer. I think the problem is on the passenger side. If it dosen't pull when just coasting the right is either hung-up, bungned-up or missadjusted. I'd take a look at the other wheel.

I had the same exact problem on my 69, its pretty scary when you have to hammer the brakes on the freeway going 70mph and end up in the other lane!! Never really figured out the problem, so I upgraded to a Wilwood front disk conversion from Summit. I was already thinking about upgrading to disk so this just gave me a better reason.

------------------
*Justin*
69 Chevelle SS
96 Corvette (Tricked out of course!!)

I've seen many cars come in pur shop with the shoes mixed up. Primary on wrong side or both primarys on one side and secondaries on the other. What a difference this makes in braking performance.

They used to color them differently, A friend told me once that they used to say that you put your brakes on just like your underwear. You put the light side to the front and the dark side to the rear. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Now most shoe's are the same color, and some dont have a different primary or secondary shoe.(same length linings).

------------------
71 Chevelle 454
65 Elco 4x4
68 Firebird 400 Conv.

Cool, good advice. Now it's time to take another look!

Bistledink, I'll throw another suggestion at you along with these other good ones. About 1.5 years ago, I chased a bad left front brake steer problem that absolutely drove me wacko. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif I wound up replacing virtually every component on the front brakes, everything EXCEPT the ole' drums' themselves. They were my problem...the right drum was so overworn and out of spec that the left would grab first and then the right, causing the left brake steer. Just some more food for thought - I hope you get her fixed soon.

------------------
1970 Malibu - 502 rat: dyno'd 621 ftlbs. & 575 horsepower..."uh honey, when are you gonna' put in the cage?" Gold Member #39
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/wescolby2.jpeg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/wescolby7.jpg)
Keep America Beautiful - Drive A Brute Force Chevelle!