3" metal piece laying in brake shoe

So I removed the brakes drums(?) to look at the condition of the shoes. The brakes were not working very well, well worse than usual..... I discovered a 3 inch metal piece laying in the bottom of the shoe. It was about 3 inches long, has a 1/2 hole in the center and is tapered to rounded ends on each end. Where does this piece go and what is its function? Is this something I can replace/repair myself or do I need to take it in?

 

Just to make sure just what it is, how about a pic?

 

I don’t know what it’s called but I think he’s talking about the piece that is at the top center that holds the shoes in place behind the two springs

 

A pic will help a ton. At 3” long it’s a bit of a head scratcher. Also, if it’s been in there rubbing/grinding against he drum then that may have “re-shaped” it a bit...lol

 

Hey Everyone, So I don’t have a pic but here is an estimate in the form of a drawing I made. I hope this helps. The Jeep is currently in a shop getting a safety package of roll bar, high back seats and seatbelts so I could not get a pic. I hope this helps. I have not talked to the mechanics about this issue. Hoping to solve this myself. The brakes still work so no danger.

 

Het thats it! Shoe plate guide.... Thanks a bunch. So can I install this pretty easily? On a scale of 1-10. 10 being an excellent mechanic, I’m about a 3-4. Can I reinstall this myself?

 

Looks like the shoe plate guide goes behind the springs?

 

It’s not that hard. Have you had this apart before? If so maybe why it wasn’t put back together correctly. Do you have anyone to help? You can always pull the other drum off to see how it goes it goes behind two springs. You can always YouTube it.

 

If you’ve done drum brakes before then it’s an easy job. Highly suggest getting a few brake spring tools to help you (they are a HUGE help).

I’m curious how the hell the thing came off with the brake assembled?!

 

No I have not had the brakes apart as I am not that familiar with brakes. I was painting the outside of the brake drum and it was loose so I took it off hoping to see the shoes. Since the brakes were worse than usual, I figured I would take a look inside the drum and the piece was laying in the bottom of the drum. It was pretty marked up from being squeezed in between the shoe and the drum.

 

Were all of the springs in place?
If you don’t know much about brakes you may not know but that price goes behind two larger springs and I don’t know how it would get loose very strange. I would just get a new spring kit but I’m not sure if that price comes with the springs. GOOD LUCK.

 

Hey LYFZGOOD, Thanks for mentioning that. I don’t remember the springs even being attached. Ill check it out today. Hoppy Easter.....

 

HOPPY EASTER TOO YOU ALSO

SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL.