The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop while on the brake topic........

hey has anyone else had trouble installing replacement return springs on the huck style brakes? i bought those newly fabricated ones from chevy duty and the darn things wont stay on. the hooks either bend or brake right off. theyre a little shorter than original springs. anyways, just wodering if it was just me. anybody know where to get ones that wont let me down?

thanks all murdoc

Got mine from "Chevs of the 40's". Have only put the front ones on but----no problems. Mine are also Huck type brakes on a 49

I have had the same problem with the springs on the huck style brakes. The trick seems to be sure to fully seat the hook in the hole of the brake shoe before you release the pressure on the spring. Otherwise, the tip of the hook will catch on the edge of the hole and the hook will try to bend out straight. If it does, it will then surely break if you try to reform the hook! I have had success using vice grips attached just below the hook, and using a large screw drive as a lever to stretch the spring into position. I informed the co. about the broken sping, and they said that they would replace it. Good luck

thanks for all the info guys, ill check out the chevys of the fourties website and also try that method of applying the brake springs denny, thanks for the input again guys.

While we're on the subject, what are Huck brakes? What other types of brakes are there and how are they different?

Thirlwell,

This link does not answer you question about "what are Huck brakes" but it tells of the advantages of Bendix brakes (more modern drum brakes than the Huck style brakes).

http://www.chevytrucks.org/tech/FrontHucktoBendix.htm

Tim