Brake adjuster spring keeps slipping off!

Found this link. You may have to click see more to open the diagrams/info
https://www.justanswer.com/chevy/2cbzu-need-exploded-diagram-2000-chevy-tracker-rear-brake.html

Are you saying the piston will not compress ?

shoe breaks are tricky but can be a little easier with practice and the right tools;
What you;ll nned:
Spring pliers
Shoe hold down tool
Diagonal side cutters.
Needle nose pliers
Flathead screw driver.

this project is easy so long as you can remember how the parts go back together.

!. remove brake drum.
2. see how the brakes fit together. REMEMBER HOW THE BRAKE BAR GOES BACK IN. IT ONLY WORKS CORRECTLY ONE WAY!

the brake bar is the metal piece that goes between the brake shoes.
3. remove the brake shoe springs with the spring pliers. *THE BRAKES HOW HIGH POWERED SPRINGS AND SHOULD BE HANDLED CAREFULLY*
4. remove the brake shoes with the spring tool.
5. clean parts thoroughly with brake part cleaner. (i like spraying it into a glass jar and shaking it a little) you can use a wire wheel to brush to clean the harder material.
then take some brake cleaner and spray down the backing plate and remove any and all grease and old brake material.
6. using brake grease, dab a small amount on the adjuster and the small oval shaped pads on the backing plate, *use a SMALL AMOUNT* less then a finger nail in size.
7. reassembly, now compare the shoes and take note that there are 2 long and 2 short shoes.
thte larger shoes go in the front and the smaller go to the rear of the vehicle. set the pairs aside so you do not confuse them. next a fix the shoes to the backing plate and then set the adjuster to the lowest setting, (shortest). and set the brake bar in place then set the springs (the longer springs)
8. adjusting the shoes. slip the drum on the hub and spin the brake, it should feel like it has a bit of drag. keep slipping the drum on and off making adjustments to the adjuster till the drum either is adjusted correctly or you cannot remove it, if you need to adjust the brake further there is an access in the backing plate for further adjustment.

take the shakle loose at devider on frame rail near cab and bed split, on driver side of truck.need a screw driver and a wrench. then remove the brake drum to the side you are replacing.disconnect returnspring for brake shoes at top of brake shoes, than remove the little circle looking spring off of the rear shoe. you will see the actuating lever with the cable installed to it remove by pulling back the spring on the cable and removing from lever. trick! slide a twelve mm. box end wrench down the cable to the backing plate retainer. hold the wrench over the retainer and pull the cable thru. reverse for instalation. once your back together adjust both rear brakes, then adjust cable at splitter.if adjusted propperly it should only have 5 clickes at peddle. Hope it helps if not let me know. good luck from Joe.

Hi:) Make sure the brake shoes are on the wright side the short shoe goes on the front part of the backing plate and make sure the emergency brakes are loose enough. They are what adjust the brakes (pulling and releasing the brakes adjust the brake slack while backing up) so check the springs and cable for proper installation.

After you remove the tire, the drim should slide off. If it doesn't then try using a rubber mallet and gently tap on the outside edge as you pull on it. Sometimes you also need to tap on the drum in the center part. I have sprayed penetrating lubes like WD-40 or PB Blaster into the seam at the center. You may also have to back off the parking brake cable or even use the adjuster to back off the shoes.

Here is the diagram for the 4 cylinder in the Tracker that year...

4cyl 2.0L http://www.gates.com/common/part_locator/view_diagram.cfm?id=S7021

Brake Shoes Removal & Installation To Remove:

1. Raise and safely support rear of vehicle.
2. Remove rear wheel assemblies.
3. Release parking brake.
4. Remove brake drum.

Rear brake shoe assembly

1. Using an appropriate brake spring tool, unhook upper return spring from rearward brake shoe.
2. Push retainer springs IN and turn to remove tension pins.
3. Lower brake shoe assembly and remove lower return spring.
4. Remove brake shoe assembly from back plate.
5. Disconnect parking brake cable from lever and remove brake shoe.
6. Remove parking brake lever from brake shoe.

To Install:

1. Install parking brake lever to rearward brake shoe.
2. Secure lever to brake show with a NEW U-clip.
3. Pinch U-clip closed.
4. Connect parking brake cable to rearward brake shoe.
5. Install self-adjuster lever spring on front brake shoe.
6. Assemble clevises, adjuster bolt and upper and lower return springs.
7. Apply a light coat of grease (Molykote 44MA or equivalent) to sliding surfaces.
8. Install brake shoe assembly onto back plate.
9. Install tension springs.
10. Using an appropriate brake spring tool, unhook upper return spring to rearward brake shoe.
11. Install brake drum.
12. Install rear wheel assembly.
13. Lower vehicle.
14. Adjust self-adjusting brakes by pressing brake pedal several times.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
If you are not thoroughly familiar with the procedures involved in brake replacement, only disassemble and assemble one side at a time, leaving the other wheel intact as a reference.
1983-88 Vehicles
See Figures 1, 2 and 3

1. Raise and safely support the rear of the vehicle with jackstands.
2. Remove the tire and wheel assembly.
3. Remove the brake drum, as outlined earlier in this section.
4. Place Brake Cylinder Clamp D81L-1103-B or equivalent, over the ends of the brake cylinder.

CAUTIONBe careful that the springs do not slip off the tool during removal, as they could cause personal injury.

1. Remove the shoe-to-anchor springs, using Brake Shoe R and R Spring BT-11, or equivalent, then unhook the cable eye from the anchor pin.

Fig. 1: Place the brake clamp tool over the ends of the wheel cylinder, then remove the shoe-to-anchor springs using the correct tool

1. Remove the shoe guide (anchor pin) plate.
2. Remove the shoe hold-down springs, shoes, adjusting screws, pivot nut, socket and automatic adjustment parts.
3. Remove the parking brake link, spring and retainer. Disconnect the parking brake cable from the parking brake lever.
4. After removing the secondary brake shoe, disassembly the parking brake lever from the shoe by removing the retaining clip and spring washer.

Fig. 2: View of the drum brake components-1983-88 9-inch brake shown Fig. 3: View of the drum brake components-1983-88 10-inch brake shownTo install:

1. The brake cable must be connected to the secondary brake shoe before the shoe is installed on the backing plate. To do this, first transfer the parking brake lever from the old secondary shoe to the new one. This is accomplished by spreading the bottom of the horseshoe clip and disengaging the lever. Position the lever on the new secondary shoe and install the spring washer and the horseshoe clip. Close the bottom of the clip after installing it. Grasp the metal tip of the parking brake cable with a pair of pliers. Position a pair of side cutter pliers on the end of the cable coil spring, and using the plier as a fulcrum, pull the coil spring back with the side cutters. Position the cable in the parking brake lever.
2. Apply a light coating of high temperature grease to the brake shoe contact points on the backing plate. Position the primary brake shoe on the front of the backing plate and install the hold-down spring and washer over the mounting pin. Install the secondary shoe on the rear of the backing plate.
3. Install the parking brake link between the notch in the primary brake shoe and the notch in the parking brake lever.
4. Install the automatic adjuster cable loop end on the anchor pin. Make sure the crimped side of the loop faces the backing plate.
5. Install the return spring in the primary brake shoe and, using the tapered end of the brake spring service tool, slide the top of the spring onto the anchor pin.

CAUTIONBe careful to make sure that the spring does not slip off the tool during installation, as it could cause injury.

1. Install the automatic adjuster cable guide in the secondary brake shoe, making sure the flared hole in the cable guide is inside the hole in the brake shoe. Fit the cable into the groove in the top of the cable guide.
2. Install the secondary shoe return spring through the hole in the cable guide and the brake shoe. Using the brake spring tool, slide the top of the spring onto the anchor pin.
3. Clean the threads on the adjusting screw and apply a light coating of high temperature grease to the threads. Screw the adjuster closed, then open it 1/2 turn.
4. Install the adjusting screw between the brake shoes with the star wheel nearest to the secondary shoe. Make sure the star wheel is in a position that is accessible from the adjusting slot in the backing plate.
5. Install the short hooked end of the automatic adjuster spring in the proper hole in the primary brake shoe.
6. Connect the hooked end of the automatic adjuster cable and the free end of the automatic adjuster spring in the slot in the top of the automatic adjuster lever.
7. Pull the automatic adjuster lever (the lever will pull the cable and spring with it) downward and to the left and engage the pivot hook of the lever in the hole in the secondary brake shoe.
8. Check the entire brake assembly to make sure that everything is installed properly. Make sure that the shoes engage the wheel cylinder properly and are flush on the anchor pin. Make sure that the automatic adjuster cable is flush on the anchor pin and in the slot on the back of the cable guide. Make sure that the adjusting lever rests on the adjusting screw star wheel. Pull upward on the adjusting cable until the adjusting lever is free of the star wheel, then release the cable. The adjusting lever should snap back into place on the adjusting screw star wheel and turn the wheel one tooth.
9. Expand the brake adjusting screw until the brake drum will just fit over the brake shoes.
10. Install the brake drum and wheel and tire assembly, then adjust the brakes.
11. Carefully lower the vehicle.

Removal Procedure Tools RequiredJ 38400
Caution: Keep fingers away from rear brake shoe springs to prevent fingers from being pinched between spring and shoe web or spring and backing plate.

1. Remove the brake drum. Refer to Brake Drum Replacement



Notice: Do not over stretch the adjuster spring. Damage can occur if the spring is over stretched.

2. Use the J 38400 in order remove the adjuster spring (1). Disengage the adjuster spring loop from the tab on the adjuster actuator.
2.1. Remove the loop end of the adjuster spring from the adjuster actuator. 2.2. Remove the straight end of the adjuster spring from the secondary brake shoe.



3. Use the J 38400 in order to spread the brake shoes apart.
4. Remove the adjuster.

Installation Procedure

1. Use the J 38400 in order to spread the brake shoes apart.



Important: Ensure that the adjuster (2) engages the brake shoes (4 and 5), the park brake actuator (3), and the adjuster actuator (1) properly.

2. Install the adjuster.



Notice: Do not over stretch the adjuster spring. Damage can occur if the spring is over stretched.

3. Install the adjuster spring (1).
3.1. Install the straight end of the adjuster spring into the secondary brake shoe. 3.2. Install the loop end of the adjuster spring to the adjuster actuator.
4. Install the brake drum.