Sonorous wrote:
Mine have never really worked properly.
If I remember correctly, when I replaced the rear seals several years ago, at least one backing plate had sheared off from all-but-one of the factory rivets or whatever was holding them on. I'm almost 100% positive I drilled any remaining rivets out and tapped all the holes for a 1/4 20 thread, because I still have a nearly-full box of short 1/4 20 allen head bolts I picked up from my commercial fastener supplier to fix them!
After some quick sandblasting and wire wheel work, along with new shoes/hardware (and pads/rotors while I was it there), everything went back together easily enough. Yet, even with some adjustment attempts, the e-brakes were, and are, still pretty bad.
I must say, that whole job was one of the least satisfying I've ever done on the Jeep, and until the rear seals start leaking again my interest level in getting them working better is pretty low!
I understand your pain... completely.
There seems to be at least a couple of problems with this design...
1) The backing plate shearing off due to corrosion on the plate or the pins/bolts holding them in place.
2) That steel actuator thingy that spreads the brake shoes apart that thermorex was posting about... it seems to corrode up badly and seize up.
The point I am making is, these parts are not too difficult to manufacture in 316 stainless steel, (except perhaps the part thermorex is posting about... that one may be a little tricky). If I also make them more robust, the problem should go away permanently.