parking brake shoe tricks
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
parking brake shoe tricks
OK so anyone has any tips on replacing the parking brake shoes?
Ive got all the stainless hardware, and before i go tearing into to it , I could use the secret trick
Thanks
tim
Ive got all the stainless hardware, and before i go tearing into to it , I could use the secret trick
Thanks
tim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 8
From: Redruth Cornwall
if you dont have the tool for compressing the small retaining spring and you are working on your owm....
Use a piece of cotton thread to tie the retaining spring together, then when its in position...light a match, burn the cotton and it pops into place!
Parking brakes are a real PITA, especially if its the first time youve worked on them.
Good luck.
BTW, dont forget the COLD beer...most important!
Use a piece of cotton thread to tie the retaining spring together, then when its in position...light a match, burn the cotton and it pops into place!
Parking brakes are a real PITA, especially if its the first time youve worked on them.
Good luck.
BTW, dont forget the COLD beer...most important!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
Parking brake shoes are on both sides of my '70. Is the cable still intact? You can get the brake shoes and hardware from just about all of the forum vendors.
I think I read in one of GTR1999 posts that he does not like the Stainless steel shoes due to fit problems..I don't remember the post, but you could search his name or shoot him an email.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
I got a stainless kit from ecklers, it fit just fine. I did have Gary take some meat off the adjusters in the kit so as to make a bit more room with the adjusters adjusted all the way in, easier fit
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 709
Likes: 1
From: Lakewood Colorado
If you are replacing the retaining pins you can get the rear one out and the new ones in by loosening the 4 parking brake flange bolts. You dont need to loosen the large fastener at the top center.
I ended up using long thin needle nose to hold the shank of the retaining pin and the screwdriver with the slot in it to attach the holding springs. Much patience required as noted above. I made up some new cuss words during this part.
I found it easier to attach top spring joining shoes slide in place and then attach holding springs. Others reverse this.
Check out zip products under tech articles and Rowley Corvette. They had helpful stuff.
I ended up using long thin needle nose to hold the shank of the retaining pin and the screwdriver with the slot in it to attach the holding springs. Much patience required as noted above. I made up some new cuss words during this part.
I found it easier to attach top spring joining shoes slide in place and then attach holding springs. Others reverse this.
Check out zip products under tech articles and Rowley Corvette. They had helpful stuff.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
As the guys said, I face the star wheels on new kits to get the shoes to collapse more so they don't hit the rotor hat. The last few SS shoes I used were ok, one set had thicker flanges so I had to fit them when assembling the arms.
Get a cheap 1/4 flat blade screw driver and use a cut off wheel to cut 2 slots in it to make your own PB tool you see in any of the catalogs.
The pins are tricky, I use RTV to hold them in place. Doing this on the car is a PITA but it can be done.
Get a cheap 1/4 flat blade screw driver and use a cut off wheel to cut 2 slots in it to make your own PB tool you see in any of the catalogs.
The pins are tricky, I use RTV to hold them in place. Doing this on the car is a PITA but it can be done.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
If you are replacing the retaining pins you can get the rear one out and the new ones in by loosening the 4 parking brake flange bolts. You dont need to loosen the large fastener at the top center.
I ended up using long thin needle nose to hold the shank of the retaining pin and the screwdriver with the slot in it to attach the holding springs. Much patience required as noted above. I made up some new cuss words during this part.
I found it easier to attach top spring joining shoes slide in place and then attach holding springs. Others reverse this.
Check out zip products under tech articles and Rowley Corvette. They had helpful stuff.
I ended up using long thin needle nose to hold the shank of the retaining pin and the screwdriver with the slot in it to attach the holding springs. Much patience required as noted above. I made up some new cuss words during this part.
I found it easier to attach top spring joining shoes slide in place and then attach holding springs. Others reverse this.
Check out zip products under tech articles and Rowley Corvette. They had helpful stuff.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
As the guys said, I face the star wheels on new kits to get the shoes to collapse more so they don't hit the rotor hat. The last few SS shoes I used were ok, one set had thicker flanges so I had to fit them when assembling the arms.
Get a cheap 1/4 flat blade screw driver and use a cut off wheel to cut 2 slots in it to make your own PB tool you see in any of the catalogs.
The pins are tricky, I use RTV to hold them in place. Doing this on the car is a PITA but it can be done.
Get a cheap 1/4 flat blade screw driver and use a cut off wheel to cut 2 slots in it to make your own PB tool you see in any of the catalogs.
The pins are tricky, I use RTV to hold them in place. Doing this on the car is a PITA but it can be done.
When you say face, do you mean you made the slots deeper or?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Print this up and take it out to the garage with you....
http://www.rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair.html
Eddie
http://www.rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair.html
Eddie
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
Print this up and take it out to the garage with you....
http://www.rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair.html
Eddie
http://www.rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair.html
Eddie
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
After dealing with these SS kits for years and finding some are good and some are not, I always face off the star wheel studs and ends so the shoes can be collapsed more then they typiacally can be with the standard studs. I found a lot of the shoes were just hitting the rotor, once cleaned up they can be set free.
Here is what I'm referring to.
Here is what I'm referring to.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Print this up and take it out to the garage with you....
http://www.rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair.html
Eddie
http://www.rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair.html
Eddie
as many standard drum brakes I have done, this was my least favorite, however I was able to get teh job done
Thanks team
tim
Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 592
Likes: 0
From: ElP TX
Question:
I just installed a rebuilt trailing arm (left side first, then right) and on both arms the lever the Pbrake cable attaches to is loose and just jiggles. It seems more than coincidence that both arms are this way
.
Thanks
I just installed a rebuilt trailing arm (left side first, then right) and on both arms the lever the Pbrake cable attaches to is loose and just jiggles. It seems more than coincidence that both arms are this way
.Thanks
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Stockholm
My car didn't get pass the annual inspection!
Parking brake doesnt work, so I'm just going to order a new ss parking kit.
Is there any kit you (or somone else) can recomend (or not recomend)?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Like I said, I got the SS kit from Ecklers and had No problems with it. I had Gary rework the star wheels and used his tip on RTV for assembly, easy job. I did however have the thing completely apart for new bearings and bushings, makes some difference.
