Looks like the retainer for the E-brake cable spring retainer was not properly crimped by the manufacturer.

cdnpont wrote:

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It hard to believe a starwheel adjuster could pop out like that. Like get itself out and around from that lower spring tension.

Maybe the adjuster just go so loose (failed to adjust) that it did pop out (one side) when you vigorously set the parking brake. Picture the shoes expanding out when you set the brake, with a starwheel being stuck retracted, it could simply fall out or be pushed out by the adjustment lever.

Then for whatever reason, over time that adjuster lever began to actually work the starwheel again expanding it back out. Hence the impossible image.

 

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 As I read this over, I can totally picture what you described. I bet you nailed it 100% Mark. And as you say, it struck me as odd that the starwheel was turned out so far. I had to spin it way in to get the drum to fit over the shoes once I had everything back in place. 

Like you say, it's hard to picture the adjuster coming out when the spring is still in place. those springs aren't weak, they keep the shoes pulled in real well at the bottom. 

One thing I've learned is to never say never, and this is a perfect illustration of something that could never happen actually happening.

Yes, I was so focused on the adjuster I forgot to mention that. That will be why the park brake cable was able to pull out farther than on the right side.

cdnpont wrote:

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I thought the link might be off as well. But does it not just fit into the PB lever (not the shoe itself)?

You know, it's easy to overlook the drums as we really don't put the miles on these cars we once did. Nobody likes or takes any joy in opening them up for an inspection. But they really need a good look every couple of years don't they. 

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 I have it all back together now but it seems to me on the back shoe it is the shoe and lever, on the front shoe it's the shoe only.

The thing is, I did back shoes on the car when I got it in 2016. It had a leaky cylinder so I did shoes and cylinders. I'm wondering if I missed something then when I put it together but it's a bit hard to imagine it took about 5000 miles and 8 years of driving for it to show up. And up until now the park brake worked great. Today when I got in the car to back it up the driveway after parking it in gear with the park brake on, I put the clutch in to start the car (without releasing the park brake) and it rolled towards the street. That has never happened before, the park brake has always held fine. I often started the car, put it in neutral and let it run on the driveway with just the park brake holding it, never an issue. Today it rolled the instant I released the clutch before starting it.