My 1959 38 with SM420 has the parking brake lever attached to the transmission which activates a band around the rear trans mounted drum. I need help in correcting a problem that should be simple to anyone with at least one good eye. I'm almost embarrassed to admit I've been working on these old chevys since the early 60s and now I can't figure out how to keep the parking brake engaged. The problem is the small spring that mounts in the top of the brake lever. It should force the movable part of the lever handle rearward, which in turn pushes a rod downward to engage a cog mechanism at the bottom of the brake lever. The fix should be simple: install a new spring at the top of the brake lever. I did and it still doesn't work properly. It appears to only fit one way. Nevertheless, something still isn't right.

Does anyone have a closeup photo depicting the exact mounting of the spring? Chevy engineers figured this was so simple they didn't include it in the shop manual.


Oldbolter
1959 Apache 3800 dually flat bed/dump with 261
1956 3800 dually flat bed/dump with 235
1957 3600 flat bed, 350 engine, 700R4, PS, disc brakes, 14 bolt rear with 4.11 gears