uneven brake shoe wear

I had much the same problem and it turned out to be a wheel bearing not adjusted right.

 

The brake return springs are probably weak. The lower one always has weight on it, so it weakens first, letting the shoe hang just a little. When changing brake shoes, always use new springs. They will pay for themselves with decreased shoe wear.

Also, check your S-cam bushings. If they are worn, the shaft will push sideways when the brakes are applied, and one shoe will press harder than the other.

It wouldn't hurt to check wheel bearings as stated above.

 

s cams and bushings worn allow the cam to move up and down so it will push on one shoe harder than the other

 

yea what they said the pins that hold the shoes in place could also be worn

 

agree with all the above.
1. pins or their bushings
2.s cam and it's bushings
3. i've never had a weak spring, but i have had a broken spring
4. wheel bearings
5. bad shoe backing plate

 

Jack up the rear wheels, put a long pry bar in one of the wheel holes, then try to pick up on the wheel. Any play will show up that way.

 

Stranger is right on the wheel bearing inspection, if the bearing was loose enough to wear the brake shoe uneven it would have leaked all the oil out and fallen off. With the brakes backed off you can put a screw driver under the bottom shoe and if both the shoes move up and down the "S" cam and bushings are worn, and you have to pull the wheel and change them. Being cheap and thinking you are saving money by not repairing worn brake parts, is not a good thing. That bottom shoe that is worn down, wore out while you were on the throttle. The second set of brakes you may get away with not changing the "S" cam and bushings, if you rotate the "S" cam 180 degrees and have kept the thing greased. Grease is the cheapest repair you will not need. Just a thought!