74 drum brake system tech

[rsbcruiser]

The rear wheel cylinders are hollow!

This blew me away at first. The rear wheel cylinders, unlike the fronts are hollow! So, to lubricate and reassemble these puppies one must take care to reassemble them with the adjuster on the correct side. Next post will show you how to orient them correctly.

 

[rsbcruiser]

See that little hole. It goes opposite the adjuster.

 

[rsbcruiser]

Correct seal orientation

Very first frame. I told you guys I was an amateur didn't I? (AMHIK) Ask me how I know. Bet you were wondering. When you push that assembly out of your rear wheel cylinder be carefull (especially if it is new and the seals are snug) to not let that spring go flying. You could spend the next ten minutes looking for it. The seals assemble as shown. The concave side of the seals orient on the convex side of the spring caps.

 

[rsbcruiser]

Rear wheel cylinder reassembly

Assemble the rear wheel cylinders using the same techniques as previously shown. One thing I noticed with these new rubber parts is that it helps to put a little grease on the rubber to aid assembly.

 

[rsbcruiser]

The return springs revisited.

Wow! Used new brake hardware here. Had to use the technique shown to put the return springs on. I installed the shoes with the back return spring holding the shoes in place. I installed the outside return spring with the shoe in the position shown. I then simply lifted the shoe and placed it on its' wheel cylinder slot. This technique turned out to be the cats meow.

 

[rsbcruiser]

Retaining spring install

Because of the new hardware (the new springs have a greater spring tension rate than the old tired ones), I had to find a different technique to install the retaining springs. Here I am using my adjustable pliers to depress the retaining spring. And the needle nose to grab the retaining post.

 

[Mickldo]

Great thread rsb

You forgot the bit about the goats though






I second the part about checking the flexible rubber brake hoses. VERY important. I had one fail on me at the top of a very nasty hill one time. I had a very scary unplanned backwards descent. Luckily I didn't hit anything or roll over on the way back down.

 

[rsbcruiser]

Great thread rsb

You forgot the bit about the goats though






I second the part about checking the flexible rubber brake hoses. VERY important. I had one fail on me at the top of a very nasty hill one time. I had a very scary unplanned backwards descent. Luckily I didn't hit anything or roll over on the way back down.

An Inside joke. Please keep in mind if you are a Newbie that the help offered here on Ih8mud is given by unpaid volunteers. Sometimes the best help is not neccesarily technical in nature. Select contact, select friend.

 

[rsbcruiser]

End of rear brake tech

The rear brakes go together and adjust up basically just like the fronts so no use beating the mule again.

 

[rsbcruiser]

Look Ma, its' a Brown Bus!

My Spector order arrived!

 

[rsbcruiser]

My Spector Offroad rant

All right, I am sure many of you have heard my references to "The Cider House Rules" by John Irving. Well, if there is a business with its' own Special Cider House Rules it is Spector. Be prepared! They are a shocker the first times you order from them. Have your order numbered up, no excuses. Do not in any way think I am bashing them. Because I tell you what! They are one of the few parts suppliers I have dealt with that I can trust to give me the correct parts and the good stuff! I will show you but first, the parts list. In be clear of this, one you understnd them they can and are willing to help you. I am willing to bet their are others out there worthy of praiise but I really haven't experimented much

QTY----Description-----Price
--1-----brk-spring-kit---61.25
--2-----lft-wheelcyl-----86.42
--2---rt-frnt-wheelcyl---86.40
--1---ss-hose-kit-------98.99
--1-----cltslave---------22.49


I ordered a brake hardware kit from SOR, what was I thinking! Well I lost track of the simple fact that a kt covers both wheels. NBD, its' NAPA. Now I wish I had ordered two Hardware kits from Spector. The SOR kit is better all of the way around. It is like opening a christmass present. And has happened before. Good job Merv or Marv, whatever your name is.

One more point about SOR. Their book is an excelent reference guide. In it you will find a very good explanation on how to diagnos a problem with your brake booster. One more, what color is your SOR manual?

 

[MarcoPolo]

post # 21

Is that my screwdriver??

 

[rsbcruiser]

Is that my screwdriver??

Ya, if you wanna come get it! Show up before midnight, I'll buy the beer, feller been, you show up with that miller and the dogs will know what to do! After midnight, well, thats' a nother matter. You understand! Amongst friends and all! Hey! You seen that Coolerman? I think hes' one of us! keep yer eye on that un! COOOOOOOlerMAN! Ya YOU! Card player too! Seen that card up your sleeve. You know the rules! What is it? Five card? You da Devil! NICE to meet ya. Maybe we share the same mamma, Coolerman.

 

[rsbcruiser]

OH boy! the front wheel cylinders revisited!

Lefty Lucy......bla, bla, bla.

 

[rsbcruiser]

Heck YA!

Heck ya I regreased just like I showed you, but one of the tensioner attachment screws was stuck good. Hmmmmm, I know what you are thinking and I don't want to hear it.

 

[rsbcruiser]

Maintaining the interface between the wheel and hub

As I mentioned earlier, when discussing how to remove rusty drums. If you have to chisel off a rusty drum the potential exists for a burr to be kicked up. The importance of proper wheel alignment should be apparent to anyone. So, as the picture shows. I filed off the burr ussing a flat file. Yawn, no big deal but it does draw out a point I will elaborate on later.

 

[rsbcruiser]

Drum brake alignment as it applies to the front wheels

When you install a front drum, it is not hard at all to know for sure how well it sits against the hub interface. The picture and the arrow point out a minor feature that will help you figure all of that out. The associated drum diameter is aanother fairly critical feature. It has to be shug but not too snug.

 

[rsbcruiser]

Finally, The dude is off of all that drum stuff!

Gosh, can't think of any more to say concerning the topic of drums. I am sure, enough said already. Honest guys, I just want to be thorough here. It should be obvious to some if not most that my education and experience in the fields of Mechanicl and Manufacturing Engineering don't exactly tranfer to good auto mechanics. I offer the above statement as an explanation as to why I am constructing this whole pile o intricate detail.

The dude abides!

 

[rsbcruiser]

I am such a big fibber!

I LIED! Not on purpose of course, just left an Engineering type thought out concerning the drums. The rears actuate like this. Ya, I know, So what! I just can't help myself! Now I have to show you the fronts actuation then we are done with the drums, scouts honor! Very interesting though, hmmm, area times two for the loads back here. Minus the smaller diameters..Oh Oh...tangent alert! Ah forget it!

 

[rsbcruiser]

Front actuation

Now, isn't that interesting!