The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Brake anchor pin retainers

Tried a search, no luck.

Working on a 1950 2-ton, but think this applies to all the trucks with Huck Brakes, and maybe Bendix as well.

What are people replacing the brake anchor pin retainers with? The original, "deformable" clips are available, but pricey, so I'm wondering: Is anyone replacing these with standard e-clips? The e-clips are about half as thin as the originals, but I don't see why you couldn't slip 2 of them on there if you wanted. There's no end-thrust on the shoes, so I don't see much risk.

Just wondering what others have done.

-Michael

Get the original clips. No need to risk the driving public or yourself by propelling 2 tons down the road with experimental e-clips. One life is well worth a few dollars. (Well, most of them are.)
Carl

I can tell you that single e-clips will bend, at least that is what happened when I tried the experiment. The hard part is getting the originals in the correct size. I believe there was a source posted a while ago that stocked all different sizes.

Like to hear more bout that source Fred. I think I could only
find the two sizes that were used on my '50, 3600.
Don't remember what the pin diameters were but there are HD
external retaining rings available with thicknesses of .050 to
.062". Don't see why the wouldn't work just as well if not
better than the half arsed clips that the factory used.
http://www.prospectfastener.com/store/retaining-ring/external/
dg

i might be thinking of something different but i got the anchor pin clips at filling station for 4 bucks. i have a 52 chevy 1ton. don't know if they r the same.

I have considered using e-clips for the small pin on Huck brakes. I think if you used two and alternated them there would be greater contact surface than the original clips.

I bought a set of the larger clips from the link below. They seem to be of decent quality and the price is reasonable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVROLET-1...arts_Accessories&hash=item5b08bbce36

Paul

I guess Denny sorta underlined it for me . . . the originals DO seem "Half-arsed". You're really only getting holding power on half the retainer. I guess e-clips aren't necessarily better, though you get retention beyond 180 degrees, at least.

And yeah, the big bolts have pins that are over an inch in diameter, so the clips are uncommon.

I think I'll futz around with some e-clips and snap rings and see if I'm confident in their performance - I'll report back.

-Michael

As Fred pointed out earlier, thin retaining rings that don't
fit the slot could bend or deform. Even though there should be
very little axial load on the pins, if your going to use a
retaining ring then go with the thick heavy duty ones as noted
in the link. To work properly and prevent axial displacement,
they should be matched to the width of the slot.
The problem with using retaining rings for us, is trying to
find a source for the right ones in small quantities.
e-clips or better yet, external clip rings would be my choice
if I could find them in the correct thickness.

dg

Michael,

The clips at the link I posted were for my 1 1/2 ton bigbolt, I believe they are the same as for your truck. If you would like, send me your brake pin measurements and I will check compatibility.

Paul