Rear Brake Backing Plate Question

Colorado Greg

Colorado Greg

Senior Member
I'm installing the rear backing plates with the brakes shoes and emergency housing and I'm having trouble getting the arms through the hole and the assembly on the axle. There must be a trick that I'm missing. I followed Les Andrews book and assembled everything before installing on the axle, but now it won't go on. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I also have a question about the emergency return spring on the backing plate, I know one end of the spring sits against the housing and when I hook the other end onto the brake arm, it just seems awfully tight. Is this supposed to hook onto the arm or the bolt?

This is for a '29 Coupe, Thanks for all of your help!
Greg
 
I am assuming the hole you are talking about is the "V" shaped space in the radius rod. The trick is to push the service brake arm all the way forward, then ease it through the "V", then snap it back into place.

Tom Endy
 
I was able to get the service arm through that way, but the emergency arm wouldn't go. I ended up taking off the ebrake arm and everything slipped in. It was alot of fun getting the ebrake arm back on with the key and spring too.

I don't know why Les's book says to assemble on the bench when I wasn't able to get it through the radius rod hole assembled.

Anybody have a comment on the spring tension of the large coiled spring on the backing plate? If I put the spring hoop on the arm it seems way too tight.
 
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The purpose of the return spring is to pull the emergency brake arm back, assuring that the shoes are released. It is under a lot of tension when properly installed.

Ron
 
I hope you know there is a left and a right spring. They are a mirror image to one another. Be sure you have them installed such that they pull the brakes "off". It is possible to get them switched. They are difficult to install. You need to make a puller tool to get them on. Some of the repos are not made correctly and seem to be too small.

At a seminar a number of years ago I observed a group of club members pondering which was left and which was right. After a long period of time they finally all agreed. When they actually tried to install them they discovered they had them backards. It is easy to do.

Tom Endy
 
Greg, you can install the backing plate completely assembled if you completely remove the radius rod then slip the radius rod in behind the levers. The only extra step is removing the bolt at the front of the radius rod, but overall it's probably easier than installing the e-brake toggle and spring with the backing plate on the car.
 
Thanks for the help guys! Got er dun!

I had thought about taking off the radius rod and installing it around the brake drum, but decided to take off the ebrake arm instead. Everything worked out great! I'm adjusting brakes tonight and can't wait to be able to stop again!:)

Greg
 
Larry Seemann said:
Greg, you can install the backing plate completely assembled if you completely remove the radius rod then slip the radius rod in behind the levers. The only extra step is removing the bolt at the front of the radius rod, but overall it's probably easier than installing the e-brake toggle and spring with the backing plate on the car.
Click to expand...

I usually do it as Larry said, and think it's the easiest way to do it.
 
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