I hate having to adjust the drum brakes on my 1990 F/S GMC Jimmy every 2,000
miles.
I really hate it because I have *the* worst lug nuts every devised -
designed by retarded Mongolian monks to self-destruct if looked at
side-wise.
The first I can fix with a conversion.
The second I haven't been able to fix with much $$ spent.

I am looking for a 60* bevel lug nut that is not thru-nut (acorn I guess)
for a 3/8" fine thread(?).
I want a solid piece lug nut, IE: nothing pressed in, on, through, etc. I
would prefer a 7/8" lug (IIRC this is the size of the OEM lug "wrench" so if
I don't have my road kit, I can change a flat with that P.O.S).
I have found a 20 piece set that almost fits this requirement, except the
chrome on it sucks. The first time you put a wrench to it, it cracks, and
then it weeps rust all over my nice shiny stock rims. Also 4 of those pieces
are "locking" lug nuts - a moronic idea and just plain annoying. So for like
$25.00 I get 16 junk lugs, 4 junk locking lugs, and I'm still 4 lugs short.
yay.
Plain ole' 60* thru-nuts don't work, too shallow for my STOCK aluminum alloy
rims (been dere, dun dat). The rims have a recess for each lug, and the
center caps makes that recess all the deeper.
If you know of a place that doesn't sell CRAP like every parts store I have
ever been too with this problem (AutoZone, PepBoy, Sanel Autoparts, VIP
Auto, and several local dealers you wouldn't have heard about) I would love
to look at a link or whatever. About the only place I haven't gone to is
NAPA.
And if anyone has some 6lug (GM compatible) 16" black steelies in southern
NH I'm making offers.
Thank you for reading my rant.

--
"Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who
believes nothing, then he who believes what is a wrong."
- Thomas Jefferson
Formerly: KJ the Lonely Grease Monkey

"GMC Gremlin" <spoof (AT) ebay (DOT) com> wrote

KJ,

For the drums, Take the self adjuster OUT. Completely remove the fork from
the threaded body. Use a wire brush or a wire wheel and polish the threads.
Put some never seize grease on the threads, then screw the fork back on.
Voila, problem solved.

For the lugs, take one off, go to NAPA, buy new ones. It ain't that hard.

Doc

I've bought MANY lug nuts, they all sucked. From places that sell good parts
and bad parts - they have all sucked. I've spent like $80 on lug nuts for my
K5/Jimmy and I still end up removing 1 or two with a bolt-out type device
every time I work on it. I'll try napa though, that's about the only place I
haven't gone.
Now the brakes. Are you saying to leave some portion physically out during
re-assembly? If not - I've already done as you have said. I took everything
out, cleaned everything up, painted everything, greased every joint so I
wouldn't have to force anything ever again - and it still just doesn't
work. Drum brakes just suck, and they stop working in the mud.

--
"Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who
believes nothing, then he who believes what is a wrong."
- Thomas Jefferson
Formerly: KJ the Lonely Grease Monkey

""Doc"" <noway (AT) nope (DOT) com> wrote

=====
=====
<KJ starte the thread with a goodly little
rant about his drum brakes and lug nuts>
====
====
( the Doctor heard KJ's painfull screams,
and came running with hyperdermic in
hand...giving him some relief with....)


For the drums, Take the self adjuster OUT.

Completely remove the fork from the threaded body. Use a wire brush or a
wire wheel and polish the threads. Put some never seize grease on the
threads, then screw the fork back on.

Voila, problem solved.

For the lugs, take one off, go to NAPA, buy new ones. It ain't that
hard.

Doc
=======
=======
(KJ....having calmed a bit after the Docs
injection....seemed a bit mellow when
he wrote.....)


I've bought MANY lug nuts, they all sucked.

From places that sell good parts and bad parts - they have all sucked.
I've spent like $80 on lug nuts for my K5/Jimmy and I still end up
removing 1 or two with a bolt-out type device every time I work on it.
I'll try napa though, that's about the only place I haven't gone.
Now the brakes. Are you saying to leave some portion physically out
during re-assembly? If not - I've already done as you have said. I took
everything out, cleaned everything up, painted everything, greased every
joint so I wouldn't have to force anything ever again - and it still
just doesn't work. Drum brakes just suck, and they stop working in the
mud.

KJ
==========
==========
KJ,
good rant.



I think ole Doc wuz uh tell'n you to do
what you said you've tried, cleaning them
up good and grease'n the parts.
The "Anti-Sieze" does work best.
........
onto yer brake prob......

Does the PARKING BRAKE work?
if not....then get it operational and use it
from time to time and your adjusting
nightmares W I L L B E over.

no bout a doubt it!!

.........
as to yer lug nut troubles.............

Have you tried the Dealer?

I mean.......you've already got over $80
invested in crappy ones.
Why not take a ride down to the dealership
and walk the lot to see if you there's any that
you like the looks of. Then.....go talk to the
parts dude and see if you can't take a look
at one or two .....and see if the quality isn't
better.
They're definately going to be a bit more
pricey, but not so much so if they LAST.

And take it from me bud.....I'm yank'n em
off everyday.....some of these vehicals have
had the dang tires yanked off plenty...and
the aftermarket lugs for the most part are
just what you called them ....junk.


~:~
marsh
~passes the jug to KJ...thinks the shot that
Doc gave him is kick'n in...and the drink will
maybe inhance the experience~

=======
=======

If you're doing a lot of mudding, maybe you should buy some of the adjuster
plugs that seal up your drum so you don't get moisture and mud in them.
That might help things out. I never adjust my drums, and they work great.


"GMC Gremlin" <spoof (AT) ebay (DOT) com> wrote

"GMC Gremlin" <spoof (AT) ebay (DOT) com> wrote


<snip rant>

Stop and use your head:

1. Did you take apart the self adjuster and clean + grease the threads?

2. Ever think that maybe the LUGS aren't the problem but rather the studs?

I've never had either of the problems you're having, so it ain't the drums
or everybodies lugs, it's your truck that's the problem.

Doc

I took everything I could apart. I was left with a backing plate and the end
of my stub shaft sticking out. Everything else got buffed clean and painted
with rustolium. Then it was put back together with AutoZoned brake grease.
Now, would you like to see a picture of the after market lug nuts? The ones
where the cap has popped off, and now the piece under the chrome is neither
metric nor standard. Or perhaps the ones where the top of the lug crushed
in, making the nut round. Or perhaps a picture of the rim that has carbon
imbedded in the clear coat, from where I had to burn a lug nut out in -20*
weather... But I guess it's my bolts....

--
"Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who
believes nothing, then he who believes what is a wrong."
- Thomas Jefferson
Formerly: KJ the Lonely Grease Monkey

""Doc"" <noway (AT) nope (DOT) com> wrote

Hehe... it broke the last time I tried to use it (e-brake). I was also
talking about it to Doc a while ago, when I first did the brake job and
couldn't get a good pedal. He told me just how to adjust them, and that the
auto/self adjusters sucked so he just manually adjusted his every 5k or so -
which wouldn't be so bad, but 2k is pretty annoying... I'll mozey on over to
the $tealer see if I can't find something satisfactory...

--
"Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who
believes nothing, then he who believes what is a wrong."
- Thomas Jefferson
Formerly: KJ the Lonely Grease Monkey

"Marsh Monster" <SwampGrassProductionsStudio (AT) webtv (DOT) net> wrote

==========
==========
(concerning parking brake cables)

On Jul 11, 2004, 2:19pm (CDT+5) From: spoof (AT) ebay (DOT) com (GMC*Gremlin)
wrote in.....

Hehe... it broke the last time I tried to use it (e-brake).

<snip>

I'll mozey on over to the $tealer see if I can't find something
satisfactory...

===========
===========

I don't like yer new handle.
I'm gonna thunk of a better one fer you.

I'm kinda lean'n toward "Cheap Nuts" right
now, but i'm leave'n "Patch" on the table as
an option.

lmao
@ the little grease monkey

marsh
~walks out to his herb garden to pick some
thought enhancer to help him with KJ's new
nic~
===========
===========

"GMC Gremlin" <spoof (AT) ebay (DOT) com> wrote

KJ,

Answer the goddamn question! DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT take APART the
self-adjuster, NOT remove it from the drum, we all know you did that, but
did you take the two pieces of it apart, clean the threads and grease them
before putting the two parts back together.

Next, I've used AZ lugs for ages without any problems. Perhaps your studs
are the problem. If the threads are chewed up or widened, it will take
excessive torque to install/remove the lugs which would cause them to bust.

Doc