Hey everyone. I am having some trouble with my drum brakes. You see, the small rod with an H shape on the end of it (see here http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7968433128&category=33565&sspagename=WD1V ) is not correctly positioned in the wheel cylinder. It seems that the brake shoe's mount causes the rod to be at an upward angle. I am sure that this isn;t good for either my brakes or my wheel cylinder. Has anyone experienced anything like this before?

I am thinking that it is possible that the shoes are incorrect because they came with the car, and the person who owned the car before did everything all wrong. Are all shoes the same or might I need to install different shoes?

Oh also, what size drums were stock on this car, and what is the difference between finned and non finned drums? Thanks.

That's what it usually looks like when you change shoes, they won't really center until the drum is on to keep them in the correct position. Did you see this right after you pulled the drum, or is it possible that the shoes have just shifted a bit? If you think they have moved, you could put the drum on again, brake to seat them and carefully pull the drum off again.

This was right after I pulled the drum off, and the brakes had been driven for a few hundred miles since I last pulled the drums. So I guess I would say that this is their "natural" position. While I was searching for the answer here, I saw a post that implied that the brake shoes are supposed to be two different sizes... is this true? Mine are the same size, and if so that could be the culprit.

The metal backings are same. The linings are different lengths. Short lining goes toward front of car.

It sounds like there's a problem to me. It should be straight. Being crooked means either the shoe is riding up, or the adjuster is way out (due to worn shoes and overspec drum).

Reasons for riding up that come to mind...
Parking brake stuck/overadjusted
bent backing plate
shoe stuck in groove worn on shoe landing