I just did this on my 57 in the rear. The brakes are not self adjusting.
The local NAPA had all the parts I needed, usually overnight or
in stock, at a very good price. Did not need new drums or spring
hardware, but the shoes, cylinders, and adjusters were no problem
at all.
Get a brake spring tool for getting those top two springs off and
on. The one I got has one end for taking the springs off and the
other end for putting them on. It works great.
The trick for the small holding rod and spring in the middle of the
shoe is to press the spring in and twist the pin 90 degrees with
a pliers. The pin will then come out.
Put anti sieze on the adjusters to keep them from rusting up.
When you take the brake line off the cylinder a tube wrench (the
fitting is a 3/8" hex) works lots better than an open end wrench.
This is like a box end wrench with a slot cut out to go over the
tube. It grips the fitting better. If you don't want to buy one,
you can make one from a box end wrench with a Dremel tool. Watch
that you don't twist the tube if it is in good shape.
The two bolts on the back that hold the cylinder on are 1/2 inch heads.
The rear drums should slide right off the studs. The fronts came
from the factory attached to the hub, so you will wind up repacking
the front bearings if you dig in there.
The original bleeder valve on the cylinders that was made for a small
hose fitting to screw in can be replaced with a modern one (the kind
that looks like a grease fitting.) Just take it all the way out.
When you bleed the new cylinder, put the cover back on the master
cylinder when you pump it. There is a little fountain of fluid that
squirts up when you press the pedal. Don't pump more than three
or four times on a full master cylinder or it will go empty.
Good luck. It's not a hard job, just tedious, especially if you
have to wait for parts.
Bruce K
57 3200
Mt. Iron, MN
At Saturday, 5 July 2003, you wrote:
>Gary, you make a good point. The guy at the local NAPA says he can get
>shoes and cylinders and actually has new drums on the shelf for
under $30
>each.
>
>Excuse my ignorance, but are the brakes on the early '55 trucks self
>adjusting?
>
>Harry
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Gary Perry <glperry@fwi.com>
>To: Spencer <wits_end@worldnet.att.net>; Ryan Sain <rsain@gte.net>;
>oletrucks <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
>Sent: Friday, July 04, 2003 10:18 PM
>Subject: Re: [oletrucks] '55 Rear brakes
>
>> Why change? Why not just rebuild? In 51 on small trucks, they
went from
>Huck
>> style to Bendix brand and that stayed almost unchanged till they
put on
>disc
>> brakes. These are good design, just renew. You can get your old shoes
>> re-lined at brake parts place if they don't have the shoes already
done,
>> wheel cylinders shouldn't be a problem there or on-line vendor
sources.
>That
>> way you can still use your park brake as it was meant to be and
your good!
>> Now on the front, about same idea, but I kinda like the disc brake
kits
>for
>> that,using the 6-lug kit to keep stock wheels. If you do that, then a
>Master
>> cylinder with two chambers is best. Doesn't have to be a power
one, but
>> needs to be a disc/drum one to work with both.
>>
>>
>> G. L. Grumpy's
>> Old Iron Ranch
>> Huntington, IN 46750
>> AD trucks and MM tractors
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Spencer" <wits_end@worldnet.att.net>
>> To: "Spencer" <wits_end@worldnet.att.net>; "Ryan Sain" <rsain@gte.
net>;
>> "oletrucks" <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
>> Sent: Friday, July 04, 2003 7:49 PM
>> Subject: [oletrucks] '55 Rear brakes
>>
>>
>> > Hello, All.
>> >
>> > I'm building a '55 1st Series Chevy 1/2 ton and am planning
to use the
>> stock
>> > rear end with the new engine and tranny. Are there any slick
upgrades
>for
>> > the rear brakes? Either modern drums or disc brakes would be
okay with
>> me.
>> > Even though mine is an AD truck, I'm guessing this is the same
rear end
>> used
>> > for the TF trucks. (Open drive shaft, 14 bolts, 3:90 gears.)
>> >
>> > If I make a rear brake change, will I have to scrap all the
existing
>> > emergency brake mechanism including the pedal in the cab?
>> >
>> > Hope you all are having a great 4th of July.
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>> > Harry Spencer
>> > 1955 1st Series in a million pieces
>> > Reno, NV
>> > oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941
and 1959
>> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941
and 1959
>oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
>
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