Brake shoes different lengths!

[win32exe]

Hello Everyone, my rear brakes started grabbing, so i took them apart for visual inspection, one side had shoes that the lining covers the whole shoes, front and rear facing, the other side has the shoes that one side of the lining is longer than the other side.

which pair of shoes is correct?
why do internet searches show both kinds as fitting my vehicle? is it a per year thing or a preference?

Thank you

Henry

[AMC of Houston]

In the Old Days, the front-facing shoe lining was always shorter than the rear-facing shoe; and we had a "grinder" that would arc the shoes to exactly match the drum.   

Then the bean counters decided that making both shoes the same would save catalog space and make production easier by cutting down on the number of different facings produced.  You'll also notice that the ends of the linings now have been arc'ed down a bit so the whole shoe face is not contacting the drum until the shoe is about half gone.

Bottom line, either will work, as long as both left and right sides are the same.

[Illeagle1984]

Indeed, both sides should be the same.  A quick look at parts store pictures shows two shorter leading shoes (the one toward the front of the car) and two longer trailing shoes.  Two trailing shoes on one side could make it grab harder than the other side.  It sounds like both your short shoes are on one side, just do a little switcheroo and you'll be good to go.

In summary: short shoes go toward the front, long shoes toward the rear.