Drum brakes...

[FST4RD]

Not a toyota but you guys seem to know a bit....
I have a Mazda familia BF 1987 1300cc of raw power with drummies on the back.
The back left was rubbing and it was quite hard to turn. Talked to a few people and they said it was either the bearings or the pads have grooves and so do the drums and they're catching.
So pulled it apart and the bearings were fine but the pads and the drums had grooves like and old vinal LP
So off to safe-r-brakes with both drums and old shoes to get the drums machined and new shoes.
Right side fitted up easy as no issues, the problematic left side though.... well heaved and hoed and with a bit of forced managed to finally get it on again! Only thing is really really hard to turn the wheel now! (i realise new shoes are thicker)
Also got told with these cars to set the drums right to drive in reverse a few times and rip on the hand brake which i did and the right side seems to be fine but the left is still dragging! Now i'm going to the coast (350KM) tomorrow and it's still dragging, apart from wearing the shoes down am I going to have any other issues? Also the handbrake light in the dash is on and doesn't turn off.... I thought the sensor was at the lever?

Thanks Guys

[THA SHZ]

did you bang it with a hammer and losen it up , make sure it moves and then adjust to suit

[FST4RD]

Did a lot of banging with a hammer to try and loosen things up....
And no nothing broken or bent

[Bling]

depends how tight it is i'd say, a 350km trip at high speed could generate quite a bit of heat if it doesn't ease off

is it the same story without the handbrake tightened?

[Mr Revhead]

did you back that side off first?
as tha shz mentioned make sure all the adjustment bits are free.

if they are too tight you will have quit a lot of heat there....
not to mention it will kill fuel economy

[FST4RD]

Yeah I was thinking about loosening that side off slightly.... might be worth a shot

[Lloyd]

Have you actually adjusted the rear brakes at the brakes themselves, or did you just chuck on new shoes and machined drums?

[FST4RD]

All sorted!
Everything was loosened off as much as possible.... just missed the fact that the handbrake cable had siezed and would go on but not back off....
Funny how it can take a second set of eyes to notice these things
All nice and free now
Thanks guys

[rollaholic]

did that fix your handbrake light problem too? because that can be caused by low brake fluid also.

[FST4RD]

Oh that was totally unrelated.....
Pulled the center consol out to adjust the hand brake cable and noticed that the switch thingee was loose, tightened and all good
Must have been all that banging with the hammer!