Jeep drum brakes....which way is up?

U shape for clearance.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

tbird wrote:

yes..certainly that makes sense. Only thing is that the u part is shorter than the cylinder so that the 2 wings on either end are going to touch the cylinder anyway. Maybe it doesn't make a whole lot of difference?

If my memory serves, that part only fits one way. Not only does it have a "u" shape from the edge, it is also curved when viewed from the top. The notches in the ends have to fit onto the brake shoes, and they only fit one way.

When the shoes grab in reverse, they shift, they shift when stopped forward too, that's why the cylinder is a dual instead of two sides so it is smooth. One side is always shifted or compressed which tilts the bar. This is how the adjusters work too, the shifting of the shoes.

Mike

tbird wrote:

I really appreciate the help. It's interesting.

In fact, mine are installed with the u in the upwards position..for some time now with no ill effects and they still work. Not sure how they got in that upward position because I've always followed what I have seen...The first time the brakes were done it was a GM mechanic..he might have put them upside down. Don't knw. But, in fact, they do fit with the u up and the parking brake still works.

Bill's diagram is what I have seen..and it makes me think the u goes down...but have a look at the pix at the bottom to the right - you will clearly see the u in the up position. I contacted the author of this website and he was pretty sure that that's the way it always was.

thanks to all tbird