Author Topic: Brake shoe spring colors matter? (Read 1463 times)

Jonk67 · « **on:** October, 29, 2009, 11:36:08 AM »

Ok, second try getting this post up hope i don't dbl. Finally got the brake parts together for my 10x2 drums, pins are longer than 1.75" shoes...Does it make a difference which color springs go F/R, have the shop manual that denotes primary/secondary spring but doesn't say if it's blue/green. They don't look any different thickness/strength wise? Please tell me I have the correct short shoe facing forward also.

Here's where I'm at now, SLOW progress, did get that rt. suspension back on though.

Thanks, Jon

daveSanborn · « **Reply #1 on:** October, 29, 2009, 11:42:07 AM »

Quote

Please tell me I have the correct short shoe facing forward also.

Everything looks good to me.

Prior to installing thenew brakes, did you inspect the backing plate for a groove worn into it? This is a very common occurance with these old cars. The inner edge of the brake shoe will wear a groove into the backing plate that will eventually cause the shoes to catch during movement.

It's not a bad idea to make sure that:

1. There is no groove.

2. Apply a light coat of grease to the backing plate to keep the shoe sliding smoothly.

Jonk67 · « **Reply #2 on:** October, 29, 2009, 11:47:25 AM »

Thanks Dave, I smoothed the 'ridge' as best I could so they (hopefully) won't catch and did lube that area (6 spots) with a dab of wheel bearing grease along with the cable guide.
Jon

Fast68back · « **Reply #3 on:** October, 29, 2009, 11:48:15 AM »

Not sure I can help with which spring goes front and rear, but I will tell you something my dad taught me a long time ago, ALWAYS replace brakes one side at a time so you can use the other as reference.

Looking at your picture though, I think the front spring may be upside down, i thought the ends of the blue and yellow both pointed in the same direction? The spring kind of looks distorted the way it is with no pressure on it.

silverblueBP · « **Reply #4 on:** October, 29, 2009, 12:16:14 PM »

Here's what mine looks like and it's worked great.

Fast68back · « **Reply #5 on:** October, 29, 2009, 12:18:31 PM »

I was wrong....

daveSanborn · « **Reply #6 on:** October, 29, 2009, 12:20:01 PM »

Quote

Here's what mine looks like and it's worked great.

... Um, I don't mean to sound picky, but that cable should be connected to the adjuster.

:)

silverblueBP · « **Reply #7 on:** October, 29, 2009, 12:47:47 PM »

Jonk67 · « **Reply #8 on:** October, 29, 2009, 05:31:05 PM »

Yeah my top front blue spring sits funny but I can't rotate it any other way, if I 'flip' the end that goes through the shoe then the 'hook' would not lay into the hole. I traded my old 8" drum/drum for a 9" so I don't have an opposite side to refer to, but I do have the shop manual, unfortunately the '60's were in black and white only :sur
Thanks all, on to the left side tonight,
Jon

cmayna · « **Reply #9 on:** October, 30, 2009, 06:13:18 AM »

For reference, here's a pic from our coupe:

Opentracker · « **Reply #10 on:** October, 30, 2009, 06:38:40 AM »

Quote from: cmayna on October, 30, 2009, 06:13:18 AM

For reference, here's a pic from our coupe:

Craig, your adjuster spring is on wrong.

It should be like this one

Opentracker · « **Reply #11 on:** October, 30, 2009, 06:40:40 AM »

Mark, your adjuster cable is not hooked up

It should be like this one

silverblueBP · « **Reply #12 on:** October, 30, 2009, 06:43:05 AM »

At least Craig has his adj cable attached :amaz

silverblueBP · « **Reply #13 on:** October, 30, 2009, 06:44:06 AM »

Uhhhh, thanks John :craz

You and Dave need to write for Leno :lol

Opentracker · « **Reply #14 on:** October, 30, 2009, 06:48:04 AM »

Mark, you also have two front shoes on.

You should have one large in the rear and one small up front like this.

Yes, I can be picky. A car that won't start is one thing, a car that won't stop is a much bigger problem

cmayna · « **Reply #15 on:** October, 30, 2009, 07:28:13 AM »

John, Specifically what part? According to the manual, it looks correct. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you.

Opentracker · « **Reply #16 on:** October, 30, 2009, 08:06:40 AM »

The bottom spring hooked from the adjuster lever to the front shoe. Yours is black, Mark's is blue.

It should go in like the top springs, with the entire half loop (on the bottom of the spring) inside the shoe. I can see your half loop, I can't see Mark's. Your spring has been twisted to get the hook end to go in the adjuster lever.

Jonk67 · « **Reply #17 on:** October, 30, 2009, 12:59:37 PM »

You guys are great, thanks for all the good examples of what not to do :craz
Finally got off the chat box last night and assembled the left side along with new emer. brake cables (both sides).
Went fine except the auto adjust tension doesn't seem tight enough, doesn't 'click' when I turn the adjuster (rt. side did) like it's not pulling tight where the lever sits on the teeth. Here's a few pics if ya'll see anything odd or obvious?

I can push my finger on the cable and force it tighter (but cable has no obvious slack), the cables were the same part# and appeared identical. Will this correct itself once I start using the brakes and everything 'sets' you think?
Thanks, Jon

AzPete · « **Reply #18 on:** October, 30, 2009, 01:35:56 PM »

I had one adjuster arm that did not sit just right to turn the wheel. I ended up tweaking it just a bit so it sat where it would work. I bent it in a bit at the lower bend. Worked just fine then.

Midlife · « **Reply #19 on:** October, 30, 2009, 01:46:13 PM »

Quote from: AzPete on October, 30, 2009, 01:35:56 PM

I had one adjuster arm that did not sit just right to turn the wheel. I ended up tweaking it just a bit so it sat where it would work. I bent it in a bit at the lower bend. Worked just fine then.

That sounds awfully familiar to me...

lethal289 · « **Reply #20 on:** October, 30, 2009, 01:47:22 PM »

so the truth comes out... Pete didn't tweak it, Mid did.

Opentracker · « **Reply #21 on:** October, 30, 2009, 02:00:37 PM »

Your adjusting cable slide isn't in the hole. I can see some of the yellow spring. You need to remove the spring, set the slider in the hole and hold it in the hole while you put the yellow spring in. That will pull the adjusting lever up on the adjusting wheel and it will work properly.

This one is in the hole and you can see the adjusting lever is up on the wheel.

Jonk67 · « **Reply #22 on:** October, 30, 2009, 04:02:13 PM »

Good eyes John, I always like a second set when I can't figure it out. That was it, the indention on the slide was buggered up on the backside, a little needlenose and mini file and it stays in now, fixed. Audible clicks now, thanks everyone.
Jon