Service brake lever pin removal ??

Wilbur

Wilbur

Senior Member
I have my rear backing plates on the bench and am having one heck of time getting the pins out of the levers in order to replace the roller tracks. I have heated the assembly with a torch, drilled all the way though the pin and still can't get them to budge. Any tips?
 
Takes extreme care to first begin with a sharp pin punch in the almost exact center.

Next begin drilling with a small drill bit & increase drill bit size in increments.

Removing a lot of the rivet center material weakens the outward compression on the perimeter of the rivet.

If accidently drilled off center, use a Dremel to remove inner material.
 
What H.L. said, and I drilled from both sides leaving a small bit in the middle of the pin, then used a 3/16" pin punch to drive them out.
 
Sparky,
I like that idea of leaving a slug undrilled and using a punch inside of the hole. Thanks. I have only drilled one of them so far.
 
Well, I finally succeeded and got the first pin out by hitting it both ways and shooting it with Kroil. I'm going to drill the next one from both sides, part way. I gotta say, Les Andrew's red book brutally over-simplifies tasks as he goes through a given chapter... Example: 6.a. Remove the pin from the service brake actuating arm. ( Like it's a greased pin with a cotter pin through the end )

I'm an Ironworker and heavy equipment mechanic, so repairing stuff and working with steel is all taken in stride. This brake job that I'm into on my '29 is pretty darn major and more difficult than l expected. Schwalm's Babbitted Bearings wanted 4 grand to do the job and, at this point, l can fully understand why. The car has been up on 36" jack stands for a month now. The front end is done and the rear brakes are apart. It sure isn't like working on my '26 T.
 
I recently rebuilt all four of my brakes and getting those pins out was the toughest part. The new replacement pins also fit snugly, which is good since you don't want any play there. I opted not to replace the roller tracks, just did a weld and file job but it came out well and made a huge improvement in the brake action.
 
Glad to hear all came out well and that the improvement was huge. The ends justify the means. My car sat for the whole summer after having a bad-brake scare on the road, so we're really looking forward to getting her out again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top