The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 59' Shortbus needs brake return springs.

I have been over the posts here and found some great info. Unfortunately the part numbers and/or parts are now unavaliable. OK so? If you have the "55'-59' GMC Maintenance manual, models 100 - 500" in section 4, page 210, fig.58 is a picture of my brakes. notice the two different springs they list. These springs are no where to be found. we searched for three weeks until we noticed that our brake shoes do not even have the holes that the springs are suppose to go in. The shoes we have, have the "TABS" to connect the springs to. SO? we cross referenced them to a spring that might work {Napa # 80169 or Carquest # H-7270} of course they are N/A. Can anyone help? OK GO!!!

Hy Uncleherb, Okay you have me thoroughly confused p/n 80169 is a kit with eight identical barrel springs for Bendix brakes, I'm not sure what H7270 is supposed to fit but looking at that kit on RockAutos website it has no resemblance to springs for your trucks brakes. I think what you need is Raybestos p/n H605 which is available at RockAuto for $10.84 Canadian dollars. Just a note it appears Carquest uses the same p/ns as Raybestos for their brake parts and H7270 is still available at RockAuto for $3.40 (manufacturers closeout). Napa uses the old United part numbers for their brake parts, hope that helps.

I don't know what your spring looks like. I assume you do not have any springs on either side to use as a comparison. Why do you not have any? There are many springs and spring kits that start with "H". I use them all the time. You will need to find the springs you need from a donor and use them outright or use them to compare what's in the kits. You can buy all kinds of kits at O'Reillys and find a match without opening the bag. Take back what ever does not match. There will be big trucks that use that same "Twin Action" brake. Some Big Bolter in here will know what to do, in due time. Keep checking your post. It's not good to abandon those helping. H7270 is a universal part number and is probably for regular duo-servo brakes 100 and 150. Don't worry about what the applicability says if it works. Most parts places don't go back that far and GM used many parts from the past forward. That's how I find all my hard to find parts. H597 looks very similar to your springs. They won't be color coded like the book says and you won't know the spring rate. What chassis is this? 1.5T ? 2T? School bus? Springs will probably be the same as a Chevy. 14 Bolt, more modern, diff may work depending on what you are doing with it. Driver-yes, hauling-no.

OK Thanks 3B and bartamos. I used the reference page out of the manual as a guide to what we are working with. I don't need those actual springs due to the fact that my shoes do not have the small holes for the spring to fit in to instead the shoes have the standard tab. I do have the springs that came off the old set, BUT we are not sure that they are even the right springs. The old ones are {4} barrel type springs that we think are the Napa 80169 ones. The other [4} springs are straight or cylinder looking. 1" in diameter, 3 5/8 long with 12 coils both with fishhook ends

Also if you are looking at the manual on page 210. the springs look like that except the have the fishhook ends. If it helps, the top left and the lower right, "pin to tab" is 4 3/8" and should have a spring rate of 70#. The top right and lower left "pin to tab" is 4" and should have a spring rate of 90#. As far as application goes. It is a 1959 GMC P303 series or S300. The VIN# is 303PS5674D, 1777 flat cowl, H110 rear end, Eaton SM420 tranny. I submitted some pics to the Gallery, but I am not sure if they posted yet. Thanks guys. GO!!!

Hy Uncleherb, a picture sure would help, on the maintenance manual I have the page you quoted is in the air brake section. At the bottom of the picture there should be description of what brakes you have, "Twin-Action Type", or "Type FR-3". What width and diameter shoes do you have?

Don't know if this will help, but here is a pic of the rear brake spring from my 59 4500 Short Bus

[IMG]http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h428/Victor705/59brakeshoespring_zpsfyhsx2qw.jpg[/IMG]]59 4500 rear brake spring[/url]

http://s1382.photobucket.com/user/uncleherb420/library/

Hopefully this works.
VEW...yes!! those are the springs that I have, and two of the ones that are broken.

3B, maybe we have different manuals. but there should be a pic in the link I sent.

They are a dual action 15 x 4 shoes

As I mentioned in your other thread, I was unable to located any so had them made by the spring company in OH. Info is posted there.

Hy Uncleherb, okay you have "Twin-Action Type" brakes made by Bendix. Now you say your brake shoes have no hole for the end of the spring to fit into, do your shoes have an attachment pin sticking out of them for the springs to hook onto? In later years the springs were changed to barrel type springs, maybe someone installed newer shoes on your axle, anyway the part number for the drum axle set is Raybestos H9223, $27.79 at RockAuto, hope that helps.

Timac Spring Manufacturing Inc.
825 Bellbrook Ave.
Xenia, OH 45385
(937) 372-3305

Is this it? and if so did they happen to send you any info that I might use to get the same spring.

Yes, that't the company.
I had some "extras" made at the time. Don't know how many you need or if you are replacing all of them. If you just need a couple, I can send them to you. If you want to have some made, I can send one of my old springs to you or directly to the company.

Give them a call and let me know what you want to do.

Uncleherb Im new to this stovebolt web site I see you have a short bus I sure would like to see some close up pictures of the steering box next to your motor . Im in the prosess of doing an engine swap in my bus and would like to see how the exhaust to frame clearance was .

do you remember how much it cost? I found a company here in Oregon that "might" be able to make them. Did they tell you what the spring rate was?

It was several years ago that I was doing the research. Seems like the factors were size of the piano wire (diameter), number of turns, and the length.

I remember contacting several spring manufactures and all of them wanted to know how many thousands did I want. Then I found the company above they said no job too small! They were perfect for want I needed.....at a great price! I sent them my spring and they sent me 10-12 new ones.

I am a little slow...lol, but I figured it out. Here are the pics guys.

http://s1382.photobucket.com/user/uncleherb420/library/

Uncleherb I am new to stovebolt I see you have a short bus with a V8 i am in the process of doing an engine swap on a 55 chevy short bus and sure would like to see some pictures of your engine bay to see the clearance for the steering column and your exhaust.

Hey uncleherb there is a place in california called bearing brake and parts supply in chico that can get what ever you need for your breaks.

I ran into something similar on my 59 370 LCF GMC. When I bought it, all the springs on the rear were broken up and laying down in the drum. Mine look to be the same as yours. I ordered the correct springs from Rockauto. The shoes looked new and were the right width and fit, with about 1/2 inch of shoe left. So I was not going to buy new shoes. But I did not know why ALL the springs were broken.
I did find out the shoes had a tab, but no holes for my new springs. The tabs were nowhere near the right location. (Someone had put the wrong shoes on it.)
SO, with some careful measuring, I drilled holes in the shoes and they work perfect now.

Sorry guys, I have not been on here for a bit due to the heart attack I got when they told me it would cost $800.00 to make the springs.....lol. Soooo? VEW, is your offer still good?

If you mean,
"give them a call and let me know what you want to do",
yes.

Actually the offer to let be buy your extra springs

How many do you need?

Herb,

Go back to the spring company and see how many clips they will make for $800, I bet it's way more than you asked for. They have minimum set up and run time fees.

I had the same thing happen to me. I needed TF Deluxe Cab SS Trim Clips and the ones the vendors were selling damages the SS during installation. I contacted a spring clip company asking for 46 clips and was quoted $750...with some further discussion I learned I could get 4000 clips for that same $750 so I had them made. Sold off all of the extra sets of 46 clips which paid for my clips and made a lot of other guys happy in the process.

So the question is how many springs can you get for $800 and are there others in need??? Will Jim Carter buy your extras?

Mike B

VEW I NEED two but four would be awesome. Mike B, I understand what you are saying but I don't have $800.00

I can send you 2 new and one old one that you can use to have new ones made.

PM me your address.

Herb,

Why not contact Jim Carter and ask if he will have them made...maybe there is a market for them and then you won't be out the $800. If nothing else you will be helping the next guy, you already know who will make them...pass that info on to someone like Jim.

Just a thought...

Mike B

Mike...I'll pass on the info to Jim Carter. All I know is I couldn't find any when I was looking. He would know what kind of market there is for them.
Guess you never came across the need for them. with all your TF's.

Victor,

So far I haven't needed them, but would be nice to know there was a source if needed...let us know how it works out.

Mike B

I spoke with John (sorry, didn't get his last name)at Jim Carter's and he said Jim was out. He took down some info and said he would pass it along to Jimmy (is that the younger Jim?). Very pleasant guy and met Peggy in KC last year. I'll let you know of any developments.