The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Parking Brake Cable Connection

I have been looking both here and on the web, but have been unable to locate a good picture of the connection of the parking brake cable at the rear brake drum. I have a 55.1 Chevy 3600, so it's got the 12" Bendix brakes on it.

I had a lot of trouble getting the rear drum off, so most of the brakes came with it:

http://i.imgur.com/eRbuvhT.jpg

However, they look almost identical to the front, which I got a better picture of (please excuse the grease):

http://i.imgur.com/4iHZnXl.jpg

In both cases, there was no spreader bar (these things: http://www.classicparts.com/1951-62-Parking-Brake-Spreader-Bar/productinfo/71-718/#.VN5OccZCby8) or spring up top. I have been unable to determine whether this spreader bar came with the brakes or not.

My questions to all of the gurus here are thus:

1. Does someone have a picture of what the rear drum brakes are supposed to look like on the 54/55.1 3600 with the parking brake cable attached?

2. Do I need the spreader bar up top between the shoes?

3. How exactly does the parking brake cable attach to the shoes on the rear drums?

I have all the parts cleaned, repainted or powder coated, and ready to go back together, but I am reluctant to reassemble without getting a parking brake cable and reattaching, or I'll have to take everything apart again.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Not the best picture. From the shop manual for 3/4 ton 54 chevy.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1954truck/54ctsm0514.html
You can just see the "spreader bar" the cable attaches to the lever arm just behind the brake shoe. I think this is very much like the rear brakes for a 67 Chevy 3/4 truck. Might want to measure the diameter of the drum and width of the shoe to be sure.Something like this:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/attachment.php?attachmentid=443547&stc=1&d=1237682954
At least you have an idea what goes where.

Wow! I have the hard copy of the manual, but my printing is very dark and I could not see the spreader bar. Thanks for the link!

I'll have to pick up a spreader bar and a spring for it, then see if I can figure out where it attaches. I would assume that the brakes don't have the extra adjuster lever and auto adjuster cable like the 67 Chevy does.

By saying that the parking brake cable attaches to the lever arm just behind the brake show, you are using the term lever arm and spreader bar interchangeably? Or are you referring to the shoe backing as the lever arm? I am trying to be as clear as I can so that I understand what's going on. Thanks!

If you look at the second link diagram, there is a component called parking brake lever. That is also visable in the previous link, just to the left of the right shoe. It is connected to the top other right shoe and the cable pulls the bottom across to the left. The spreader bar is postioned between the top of the lever and the left shoe. When the bottom of the lever is pulled to the left, the spreader bar forces both shoes out to the drum.

Oh wow! How did I miss that? I feel dumb. Well, I'm hoping the driver's side on my truck has these parts, as the passenger's side rear drum did not. If I can't find some NOS parts, I'm going to have to try and fabricate them.

Thanks for all your help, this makes a lot more sense now!

Here is a really good photo for you. Emerg Brake I would try in the Parts Wanted. Sometimes the rearends are replaced and this results in spare parts for sale.

Thanks! It's kind of funny, I can find a lot of pictures that are almost right, but none of the actual Bendix 12" drums. Once I get all the parts and get this thing working, I'll post a picture here so anyone who needs it will have a pic.

The strut (aka, 'spreader bar' - I found the real name of it), its spring, and the parking lever are all missing from the passenger side of my truck. I'm hoping that the driver's side has everything.

No individual parts, but this is the best picture I've been able to find:

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Bendix-Style-Emergency-Brakes-for-1937-48-Ford-Rear-12-x-2-Inch,31407.html

It says it's for Ford, but it could be that parts are the same.

After widening my search, I think that I have found a picture of one of the parking brake levers. It may be from a slightly newer model brake, but this looks right (picture about halfway down).

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/chassis-suspension/0911clt-drum-brake-system-basics/

Not trying to bump this thread, just trying to keep all the information in one place. Found this patent with some good diagrams:

http://www.google.com/patents/US2924116