Break spring pliers

apbright

apbright

Senior Member
After several experiences of injuring myself while removing and replacing brake springs, I decided to be a wuss and buy a set of brake spring pliers. Now, it seems that in addition to being a wuss, I am also an idiot, as I absolutely cannot figure out how to make any use of these things at all. I know it says that a socket end is for removal and a notched end is for installation, but I'll be darned if I can find anything resembling a notch or a socket on these pliers.

Has anyone ever used these things to benefit anything other than your own madness?
 
Them end thingies are for takin' off & puttin' on STRONG, short springs that hook on a post, kinda' like on earlier Chrysler Products brakes. I even recomember the difference between their "Single plane" & their "Center plane" brakes! Bill W.
 
apbright said:
After several experiences of injuring myself while removing and replacing brake springs, I decided to be a wuss and buy a set of brake spring pliers. Now, it seems that in addition to being a wuss, I am also an idiot, as I absolutely cannot figure out how to make any use of these things at all. I know it says that a socket end is for removal and a notched end is for installation, but I'll be darned if I can find anything resembling a notch or a socket on these pliers.

Has anyone ever used these things to benefit anything other than your own madness?
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Find someone that can show you the proper way to use them.
You can get SERIOUSLY hurt by improper use.
Also, it is a good plan to use a full face shield when using them.
 
I put on a pair of leather gloves and use my Vice-Grip on the Model A spring. Clamp on near the end of the spring really tight and pull and tuck. If the vice grip slips off the spring the leather gloves will help to save your skin. Sometimes I also use a flat blade screwdrive to help pry against the Vice-Grip to hook the spring.

I also have a brake spring pliers, but don't find them usefull on the Model A.
 
The pliers I use have a hook on one arm and a pointed end on the other. This allows for a grip in the lining while hooking the spring. It's a bit awkward sometimes, but it works.
 
I don't use any pliers at all. I loosely mount the brake shoes on trhe backing plate with the long upper spring loosely connected to both shoes. I insert the hook end of one of the shoes. I grasp the lower end of the shoe and use it as a lever as I connect The other end of the short spring in place , I pull out on the shoe and guide it in place over the wedge and on the track.
 
Purdy Swoft said:
I don't use any pliers at all. I loosely mount the brake shoes on trhe backing plate with the long upper spring loosely connected to both shoes. I insert the hook end of one of the shoes. I grasp the lower end of the shoe and use it as a lever as I connect The other end of the short spring in place , I pull out on the shoe and guide it in place over the wedge and on the track.
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Dang, Purdy! That's a great idea!
 
Never used them on a model A did not do my A brakes yet so not sure if it is seful fro a mdel A. But have used the for years on 40 - 50's mopars they work well removing the spring as you can dig into the shoe or shoe rivet to grip But when installing to avoid damage to the shes I put a short board next to the shoe and dig point into board it helps me from damaging shoes .
 
Another way to put the springs in place without pliers is with a screw driver. Take an old flat blade screwdriver that you ain't too proud of and grind a V in the end of the blade. With one end of the spring over the Rivet or post, slip the V notched blade of the screwdriver in the hook of the other end of the short sping and push it toward the hole in the brake shoe where it is suppose to go. When the end is over the hole in the shoe, push down until it slips in place. Its easier to actually do than type and explain. No need to ever struggle with any tool with the long spring. It is just too easy to FIRST install loosely by hand as the shoes are mounted. Its easier than you might think.
 
Purdy Swoft said:
I don't use any pliers at all. I loosely mount the brake shoes on trhe backing plate with the long upper spring loosely connected to both shoes. I insert the hook end of one of the shoes. I grasp the lower end of the shoe and use it as a lever as I connect The other end of the short spring in place , I pull out on the shoe and guide it in place over the wedge and on the track.
Click to expand...

I did this same thing, worked great. I have a set of plyers that fit an A spring from a old set of tools I purchased from a old Ford man. Found it easier to not use them.
 
Purdy, I too, save old screwdrivers that I'm not too proud of. You can make a lot of stuff from them. Cut off the flat end, hollow grind the shaft, they'll get into little holes & screw out jets, emulsion tubes, etc. They'll substitute for one of your jeweler's screwdrivers that somebody??broke!
I ground a slot in one screwdriver blade with a cut-off wheel to tighten that funny flat nut that holds the ammeter post tight to the buss bar, so's it don't get HOT!
I ground one into a REALLY sharp AWL that made Gregg bleed! When I would show Chief my really bad bleeding wound, he would say something like, "You're O.K. see, you're NOT out of blood yet"! or, "GEEZ! you got REALLY healthy lookin' blood"! Loved that man! Bill W.
 
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As a kid doing my first brake job I was using a pair of pliers to take off the springs. Pliers slipped off causing my hand to hit the edge of the rusty fender. Tried again with the same result but drew blood that time. Third try it slipped off and I stuck the pliers in my eye. Dad who was watching the whole thing calmly said "use a vice grip". Never forgot that lesson.
 
the first method Purdy describes is the easiest. I've been doing them that way forever. Try it...no need for spring pliers on a Model A, ever.
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
Purdy, I too, save old screwdrivers that I'm not too proud of. You can make a lot of stuff from them. Cut off the flat end, hollow grind the shaft, they'll get into little holes & screw out jets, emulsion tubes, etc. They'll substitute for one of your jeweler's screwdrivers that somebody??broke!
I ground a slot in one screwdriver blade with a cut-off wheel to tighten that funny flat nut that holds the ammeter pot tight to the buss bar, so's it don't get HOT!
I ground one into a REALLY sharp AWL that made Gregg bleed! When I would show Chief my really bad bleeding wound, he would say something like, "You're O.K. see, you're NOT out of blood yet"! or, "GEEZ! you got REALLY healthy lookin' blood"! Loved that man! Bill W.
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Although we're off topic, I do the same thing. Save old screwdrivers to make special tools when needed. They are also easy to harden after re shaping.

As to the brake subject, I have used vice grips also, but have, on occasion, found the gouging from the vice grips create a starter point for a spring to break.
 
Vice grip and sometimes a large carpenters H clamp to pull the VG over closer to the edge.

Joe K
 
A2021T_pJPG.JPG
Best tool ever for brake shoe and spring installation...
From Mac's....

Purdy Swoft
Senior Member

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,177


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Re: Break spring pliers
I don't use any pliers at all. I loosely mount the brake shoes on trhe backing plate with the long upper spring loosely connected to both shoes. I insert the hook end of one of the shoes. I grasp the lower end of the shoe and use it as a lever as I connect The other end of the short spring in place , I pull out on the shoe and guide it in place over the wedge and on the track.
 
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