Brake soft pins

jrapose

jrapose

Senior Member
Are the soft pins something I can find at the hardware store or do I need to order them from a parts supplier ? I needed to drill them out to remove them, and they look like the pins I use in my tractor. Anyone know the size ? Are the front soft pins the same as the rear ?

Thanks
Joel Rapose Chester Ca.
Working on 1930 Tudor Sedan
 
On the brake actuators that go from the brake rods, then into the brake backing plate and actually turn and move the shoes...the arms are attached with soft pins...they are like rivets without heads...you heat them up to glowing red and hammer the ends over to lock the acutating levers on to the saft of the brake actuator... just a steel rod (I think)..nothing really special about them..

Joel
 
I think they probably are like I use on my snow blower...it has soft pins to keep from breaking parts...the soft pin breaks first...

Joel
 
From Brattons...

FRONT BRAKE LEVER PINS For Year(s): 28-31

Replace these 1/4"x1" flat head pins when you drive out the originals to replace the above bushings. Install pin, heat RED hot and peen.
 
OK I see soft pins = shear pins. I don't think I would like my brake parts coming loose. Use the pins Bratton's sells.
 
sheer pins are normally Grade 2 strength...maybe these are harder...but if they are hardened to red and peened over the hardness would change...
Rivets change hardness when installed..much harder to drill out after installed..

Joel
 
Last edited:
jrapose said:
sheer pins are normally Grade 2 strength...maybe these are harder...but if they are hardened to red and peened over the hardness would change...
Rivets change hardness when installed..much harder to drill out after installed..

Joel
Click to expand...

I don't consider them "sheer pins" or "soft pins". They are a critical part
of the brake system, as the other pins are! Would you want those 4 pins
too "sheer", made from "soft" material? I consider them rivets...
 
OK.... I give... I will order some...and actually test the hardness of the pins they send me....I bet they are grade 2...as steel gets "tempered" when heated to glowing red and hamered... (makes it hard).. they are not very expensive plus I really doubt the strain put on them by such a short action arm even under a panic stop...remember you are applying that torque to all 4 arms at the same time so it is only 1/4 of the actual torque from the brake cross shaft...
I wonder how to measure that...just wondering...interesting thought though.

Joel
 
I don't know why you are so concerned with the rivets that attach the front lever. If you just purchase the rivet pins for a reputable model A supplier they will work just fine. I have peened them over cold and they installed just fine. The rivet/pins will swell to fill the small void inside the operating shaft and lever to create a tight fit.
Rusty Nelson
 
I sure do have concerns....I purchased some parts from LeBaron Bonney thinking they would have real high quality parts...and what did I get....for more money than most other parts suppliers I got VINTIQUE krap...no other word describes the quality of that company...I installed some plated screws and within a week they were rusting...amazing ... I thought it was only McDonalds that could slice a bacon strip into 65 pieces...nope Vintque somehow managed sub-micro chrome plating... their parts never fit perfectly and how can I trust the quality ? You try to find a dealer that sells good stuff...but why do good parts houses carry such poor quality products...I would much rather they just don't sell anything than sell me junk that might or might not work or fit...or even worse than my old worn out parts.... Where is the integrety ?

Yes I am in a bad mood today...sorry...gotta rant some...grumble.grumble
 
Guess I now will go out and take that .010" shim out of my transmission that I think put the cluster gear too snug...I just diden't like .012" end clearance...seems sloppy.
and it is windy...bah ! bad mood...
 
Hey I used to have to get my parts at JC Whitney! Try bratton's, they carry some good parts and usually say if something needs work or if they are all that can be had.
 
Brattons pins (more like rivets) are fine.

They are intended to be squeezed so they swell and fill any space so the lever can not rotate even a small amount on the shaft.
I have a very large vice and used that to set the pins, I know mine are going no where.
 
Ha ! rember JC Whitney...and their junk...almost funny... Yes I agree Bratten's usuallly is pretty darn good... I will call them on Monday.

Joel
 
jrapose said:
Guess I now will go out and take that .010" shim out of my transmission that I think put the cluster gear too snug...I just diden't like .012" end clearance...seems sloppy.
and it is windy...bah ! bad mood...
Click to expand...

Maybe the wind will blow in better weather!:):D
 
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