Drums have have shoes.
Rotors have pads.
My dad always busts my ass because I tend to call wheel cylinders calipers. Calipers go on rotors with pads. Wheel cylinders go on drums with shoes. Terminology :silly:
I was careful to say shoes. Yes, you can install shoes incorrectly. The springs and hardware have to go on a certain way or there will be binding or too much or too little force exerted on the 3 (or 6) bosses (3 per shoe) on the backing plate and other hardware. Your referring to the bosses right?
The Dodge Ram shoes are all identical but the hardware install is slightly different drivers/passenger side. Duo servo or something. Been over a year since I did the ram and 4 since the Dakota.
Worn hardware can also be an issue. Drums and springs should be nice and perdy and not too worn. When you do drum brakes it’s a great time to sand away rust on the baking plate and spray on a coat of rustoleum or rust inhibiting paint, front and back. Not necessary to paint but it could help with friction and increase the life of the baking plate. Looks perdy too… sanding the bosses is fine.
Eric did do a video on brake SHOES though his example slightly differs from your truck if I remember correctly. Servo rather than duo servo.
I know most people don’t like the $15 shoes/pads but they do last years if installed correctly and inspected annually.
http://www.justanswer.com/dodge/1d5yt-put-rear-brakes-97-dodge-ram-truck.html
Don’t believe they differ much from 97-99. Your service manual should provide information.
If your still having difficulty I have his old Ram sitting in my driveway. I could rip it apart and give you an example. There are lots of examples on the Internet too.
Good luck to you man.