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4/20/19: My parts for the brakes came in today and I was anxious to get the truck back on it’s wheels again. I was also nervous that I would do something stupid like press the brake pedal and pop one of the wheel cylinders.

When I originally disassembled the rear brakes the emergency brake cables were not installed in their respective clamps but were instead cable tied to the clamps. Upon further investigation, I determined that they were not the proper cables for the 3100. I previously ordered the proper cables and it’s amazing when you have the correct parts, how much easier the job goes. The only issue I had wer the new boots that I bought didn’t fit on the threaded end of the cable. I used silicone to get them on, but they were stretch so thin I can’t see how they could possibly last.

I then installed the shoes and retaining springs without the proper tools. All of my brake tools are up in New York in my garage. I want to get my truck road worthy as soon as possible so armed with a screwdriver and a pair of vice grips I installed the rest of the brake components. I’ve done it before when I was young and couldn’t afford the proper tools.

I finished installing the rest of the components. While the truck sat waiting for parts, the wheel cylinders expanded and I could not get the shoes to contact the anchor pin. The pistons didn’t pop out but were not allowing the shoes to seat so I opened the bleeders to allow them to compress. Once I got the shoes seated, reinstallation of the drums and the brake adjustment went relatively easy.

Anxious to try out the brakes, I taped up the cut headlight wires and took her for a short ride on the street. The brakes and the emergency brakes seem to work as intended, another job to cross off my very long list.