1973 Plymouth Valiant Drum Brakes Issues

Hey everyone,

It's been awhile since i have posted on this site. I have a 1973 Plymouth Valiant Slant Six. Currently i'm running into trouble with the brakes on my rear driver side.

The drum brakes were fine but needed replacing. So a year ago i replaced them with a set i got from Advanced Auto. They didn't fit correctly so me and my dad did the best we could and eventually got them lined up like the previous set of brakes.

Well about a month ago, i was driving home and felt my rear driver side pop and sway the car a bit. I pull over to closeby bank, by the time i do though it's smoking up the road. Basically the brakes were close to being on fire because of some sort of failure either by the way we installed them or just time taking it's toll on the parts.

I do know however that i have never replaced the springs/etc on the drum brakes through the whole car since i've owned it.

If you guys need pictures i can take some in a bit to show you what my situation is like.

Basically for the moment i want to drive the car, so since the tension on the springs for the brakes are loose what are some tips you'd suggest i do? and i have the old pads i can put back on which weren't too worn out but they will get me mobile and back into my own ride.

Basically this long message is to ask how i adjust my drum brakes at the most minimal cost[no cost and home fixes would be preferable but i know better] to me and ensure i can get my brakes to be safe again.

Oh when the whole brake pads crystalised and smoked up the bank parking lot thing happened my wheel cylinder basically lost the rubber around it so i believe i'll buy new on that one.