Question: 71 Parking Brake procedure
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Question: 71 Parking Brake procedure
I've got the rear rotors, parking brake shoes, and adjusters removed, no problems yet until now. The large 5/8" bolt that is mounted to the top center that holds the backing plate in position, is frozen. This bolt has a thin plate behind it that has tabs that are bent over the edges of the bolt head. I have been soaking the bolt in Kroil for three weeks. I have four pressing questions:
Does this bolt turn counter-clockwise for removal?
Does it need to be removed to get the backing plate loose enough to put in the pin that retains the parking brake shoe?
Do I really have to cut the actuating lever assemblies in order to get them out (they are not frozen and function normally)?
My parking brakes don't look that bad and are functional. Should I just lube and clean all the components and forget rebuilding them? This problem is really holding me up finishing the brake rebuild job.
Thanks in advance,
Rick in Tennessee
Does this bolt turn counter-clockwise for removal?
Does it need to be removed to get the backing plate loose enough to put in the pin that retains the parking brake shoe?
Do I really have to cut the actuating lever assemblies in order to get them out (they are not frozen and function normally)?
My parking brakes don't look that bad and are functional. Should I just lube and clean all the components and forget rebuilding them? This problem is really holding me up finishing the brake rebuild job.
Thanks in advance,
Rick in Tennessee
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 958
Likes: 1
From: In the Beautiful Shenandoah Valley of VA
Rick,
The large bolt at the top is right hand thread. But removing that will not allow the backing plate to come loose, as the backing plate is also held on by the 4 bolts that hold the bearing hub and the caliper mounting plate to the trailing arm. Even if you removed all of the parking brake mechanism and shoes, and removed the nuts from the bolts, I don't believe the backing plate will come out far enough to release the parking brake shoe pin sufficient to come out. You're stuck with reusing the existing pin unless you're willing to press the spindle out of the bearings and hub. The actuating lever also will not come out without unbolting the nuts holding everything together; there simply isn't enough room.
I would suggest cleaning everything up with Brakleen or equivalent, and then picking up some of the lubricant down at an auto parts store that is used for brake shoe work. This is a thick, non-melting white lubricant that used to be known as Lubriplate, but I'm sure it's carried under other names. If everything is loose and functional, you really won't gain much by replacing parts. Clean it, lube it, adjust it and you should be ready to go.
Steve
The large bolt at the top is right hand thread. But removing that will not allow the backing plate to come loose, as the backing plate is also held on by the 4 bolts that hold the bearing hub and the caliper mounting plate to the trailing arm. Even if you removed all of the parking brake mechanism and shoes, and removed the nuts from the bolts, I don't believe the backing plate will come out far enough to release the parking brake shoe pin sufficient to come out. You're stuck with reusing the existing pin unless you're willing to press the spindle out of the bearings and hub. The actuating lever also will not come out without unbolting the nuts holding everything together; there simply isn't enough room.
I would suggest cleaning everything up with Brakleen or equivalent, and then picking up some of the lubricant down at an auto parts store that is used for brake shoe work. This is a thick, non-melting white lubricant that used to be known as Lubriplate, but I'm sure it's carried under other names. If everything is loose and functional, you really won't gain much by replacing parts. Clean it, lube it, adjust it and you should be ready to go.
Steve
