Rear brake diagram

Installation

This guide might help you by showing you all brake springs are the same.

Check out this video.

https://youtu.be/-Ts8SRUxRc8

Lubricate the brake backing plate friction points. Use Silicone Brake Caliper Grease and Dielectric Compound D7AZ-19A331-A (Motorcraft WA-10) or an equivalent silicone compound meeting Ford specification ESE-M1C171-A.

Install the rear brake shoes and linings.
Position the rear brake shoes and linings.
Install the (A) brake shoe hold-down spring pins and the (B) brake shoe hold-down springs.
Install the brake shoe anchor pin guide plate.

NOTE: To prevent incorrect installation, the socket end of each brake adjuster screw is stamped R or L.

Assemble the brake adjuster screw assembly.
Apply Silicone Brake Caliper Grease and Dielectric Compound D7AZ-19A331-A (Motorcraft WA-10) or an equivalent silicone compound meeting Ford specification ESE-M1C171-A.
Install the (A) brake adjuster screw into the (B) brake shoe adjusting screw nut to the end of the threads, and then loosen one-half turn.
Install the brake shoe adjusting screw socket on the brake shoe adjusting screw nut.

Install the brake adjuster screw assembly.
Position the brake adjuster screw assembly.
Install the brake shoe adjusting screw spring.
Position the brake shoe adjusting lever cable.
Install the cable guide.
Position the (A) adjusting lever return spring and the (B) brake shoe adjusting lever.
Hook the brake shoe adjusting lever cable to the brake shoe adjusting lever.

Test the operation of the automatic self-adjuster.
Pull the (A) brake shoe adjusting lever cable and check that the (B) brake shoe adjusting lever rotates the (C) brake shoe adjuster assembly.
Release the brake shoe adjusting lever cable and check that the brake shoe adjusting lever advances to the next notch on the (D) brake shoe adjusting screw nut.

Install the parking brake lever.
Attach the (A) parking brake rear cable and conduit to the (B) parking brake lever.
Position the parking brake lever.
Install the (C) parking brake lever bolt and, at the back of the brake backing plate, the (D) parking brake lever bolt lock nut.

Install the brake shoe retracting spring.

Adjust the brakes. Refer to Brake Shoe and Lining Adjustments in the General Procedures portion of this section.
NOTE: The brake drum spring nut is not necessary for installation.

These Ford hold down springs use a specific tool that will allow you to push it down (towards backing plate) while you put the hold down anchor pin in place

Install the brake drum.
Install the tire and wheel assembly.

Be sure the shorter lining is toward the front of the vehicle. It sounds like you may have a cable for a 10" brake and you need one for an 11" brake, or something similar. Compare the cable's length to the one on the other side.

Can you post a photo of the assembly?

Check that you can push the parking brake strut bar forward 1/8" against anti-rattle spring pressure with your thumb. Be sure both shoes are touching the large anchor pin on top of the backing plate.

Post a photo if you can. My laptop battery is dying. I'll be back tomorrow night to see how you're doing.

It shows the purple spring in the wrong position. I don't think so. They don't make parts. They buy them from suppliers, and those suppliers are often the same ones that supplied the original manufacturer.

Your brake style wasn't what I had in mind last night. For this style, look at the guide the cable runs in at the center of the shoe frame. Be sure that guide is fully seated and the tabs are bent over tightly. Be sure the hook on top is pulled all the way down on the anchor.

In the worst case, I suppose you could swap the cables side-to-side to see if the problem only affects the other side then.

I don't like those springs either. There are special tools for them but I never bought them because I didn't work on that many of that style. I just made do with other tools.

I'm afraid I don't have a better answer than to be sure both shoe frames are all the way retracted so they hit the anchor pin on top, and check that there's 1/8" or so free play in the parking brake strut bar.