The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun 1949 3800 rear brake adjuster

I'm just getting into the rear brakes on my 1 ton.
The teeth on one of the adjuster wheels are mostly sheered off - what are the options to repair this? Do I just need to find replacement backing plates?

The part does show up on Ebay. When you can, send me a PM, I may be able to help. I think the challenge would be how to attach the new wheel. I think they were swagged together.

I have often wondered if it is possible to cut a slot in the backing plate and adjust it like the front. The brakes on the front of my 38 Master, which use the same drums as the 1/2 Ton, have a hole drilled in the drum to do the adjustment.

When I first got my 1-Ton I was delighted to see how easy it was to adjust the back brakes. Just put a wrench on the adjuster and turn it, clockwise to tighten and anti clockwise to loosen. Then I tried it and promptly stripped the teeth on the cam due to rust in the fine threads in the end caps of the wheel cylinder that had frozen tight. I ended up using a brass punch and a small hammer to get the end cap to move. When you put everything back together lightly lubricate the threads so that they can't rust up and it's a fine idea to carefully move the adjusters back and forth a little every so often.

It's been a few years now but I once was able to get new the wheel with the pimples on them that engage the ends of the wheel cylinders. I braised them onto the existing shafts with new springs. It has worked for many years now. I have long used Never Seize compound on the aluminum pistons, the threads on the adjusters, front and rear, and anything else I can think of just to ward off the devils of rust. Don't forget the bleed screws in the wheel cylinders.