Ok so I changed my brakes today, first time ever doing a brake job. The rear shoes that were on there had a groove in down the middle of them, the drums had a matching "raised" groove down the middle of them. Forgot to get a picture of the drum, just the shoes. The replacement shoes I bought did not have this groove. So my questions are: What is the groove and should it be there? Since the new shoes do not have the groove like in the picture, should I replace the drums also? Never done brakes so any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

So is this groove normal or what?

 

Matching groove in the drum you say? Haven't seen it on any C8.25s before. What year and axle is this?

 

I've seen shoes like that before, but not on an XJ. At least not the relatively few I've opened the rear brakes on.
Not sure if it's what you were supposed to have or not- I don't know what the 01's came with.
In any case, if the inside of the drum isn't smooth and flat (yours apparently aren't), have them machined. You don't want the new shoes applying against the narrow ridge instead of the full face of the drum.

 

Ive seen this on older vechicles some sort of crude way of keeping brakes cool maybe. I would get parts that match each other thats fersure.

 

There is nothing special about any xj rear end brakes 44, 35, and 8.25 all have smooth pads, have the drums resurfaced or spend $20 more and get new drums altogether, New drums cost about $30 ea.

 

Thanks guys, that what I thought. FYI its 2001 D35. I will pick up new drums when I drop off the cores.

 

Ordered new drums so the new shoes don't wear all weird and uneven. The local NAPA boys hadn't seen shoes like this either.......very odd.