I have a 1950 Chevy half ton p/u model 3100 with the original Huck Brake (`47 thru 50)set up.
BACKGROUND
Truck has been totally restored (Frame Off)and throughout the restoration "all" the chassis / suspension parts ID #'s and/or casting #'s were the original / unaltered part per the `50 Chevy master parts manual. So clearly the truck has not been altered over the years.
QUESTION
The 50 Chevy is "supposed" to have 2 ~ 90 degree tabs spot welded to the axel backing plate such that the Brake Shoe Hold-Down Spring & Retainer Wires can be installed.
Clearly the spot welded tabs (1947 thru 1950) are not there, have never been there, (i.e. no weld marks) thus the brake shoes can not be anchored properly so thus they can "wander/shimmy" within the brake drum thus creating noise & possibly poor braking. On later models (1951 and newer)the backing plate had holes such that the more modern brake shoe hold down springs could be used.
In an attempt to correct for the missing tabs, I have drilled the holes in the back plate, installed the more modern brake shoe hold down clips; but there is not enough clearance between the clip and the brake drum which must be the reason that "tabs" were used in the `47 to `50 Chevy 1/2 ton trucks.
BOTTOM LINE
Has anyone ever run across this situation before? and if so what is the fix?
Clearly the clips were never there (no evidence of a spot weld),so is it possible that back in this era that "sloppy" manufacturing practices could have periodically missed this process?