Brake Dust Washers

[50Trucking]

I am rebuilding the brakes on my 31 coupe and have removed the brake adjusting wedge and cleaned the threads with a tap and reinstalled the wedge' Now I need to re-install the dust washer that covers the adjusting wedge. Does anyone know of an easy way to open up the area where the dust cap inserts into the wedge housing? It has to be opened up, install the dust washer and then re crimped to hold it in.

 

[Y-Blockhead]

I have always just placed the dust cap in place and tapped with a hammer. They pop right in.

 

[Synchro909]

Replacing those covers is something I have never done but I have assumed they are placed in the recess and given a blow from the convex side to swell them, locking them in place. That is, they are a Welch plug. The housing is not altered to fit them.

 

[Steve Schmauch]

fit the cover into the recess at an angle then tap the opposite side and it should pop fully back into its recess. Be careful not to hit the cover too hard and dent it.

 

[Marshall V. Daut]

Find a deep socket that almost matches the circumference of the dust cover and clears the center bump at the same time. Then tap it straight down with a hammer. The softer metal domed cover will compress into the stronger metal backing plate bore and bottom out against the faint ledge inside. The other methods described so far will work, too.
Marshall

 

[50Trucking]

Evidently what has happened with some previous owner is they put the dust washer in the backing plate and crimped it over the washer rather than striking the top of the washer and expanding it into the backing plate. Mine are bent in which does not allow the washers to come close to entering he backing plate.

 

[Bob Bidonde]

This slide should help you.