The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1956 6400 brake springs

I’m rebuilding the brakes on my 1956 Chevy 6400. I’m trying to locate the rear brake shoe return springs. Has anyone found a source for them? Everywhere I’ve called can not get them anymore.

CLConard - First off, Welcome to Stovebolt!

A little searching in some Chevy Master Parts Books shows those rear brake shoe return springs for your truck listed as GM# 3694516 (2 each per shoe) for the upper "short shoe" and GM# 3694799 (2 each per shoe) for the lower "long shoe". The overall length of the upper springs are 3-7/16" (green) while the lower spring length is listed as 3-7/8" (black).

I did a quick web search of the GM#s and found none being offered anywhere, but stuff like that does pop up on eBay sometimes. I think your best option is to go ahead and move this over to the Truck Parts Wanted forum in the Swap Meet and perhaps there is a Bolter that has some serviceable spares or even an NOS stash they would be willing to part with.

Just say the word and I can move this over to that forum and we can see if anyone can help you out.

Not sure if I remember correctly but someone had some springs made up a few years back and I think was offering some on here a while back .Also don’t remember what size truck they were from but you could search the site and see what pops up

I saw only one spring available on ebay right now. The seller said "last one, sold 130". Do you know that Dwight Yokam song... "always late" or a "day late and a dollar short". Darn it.

Are your springs missing or broken, or are you just looking for new since your in there now?

Nothing wrong with reusing your existing springs if they still look good...

Mike B

Here is an excellent earlier thread on this same topic 1952-5700 2ton Brake Return Spring Equivalent that offers some previous advice on possible alternative springs.

In reading through the conversation, it looks like the Raybestos H500 spring kit is the closest approximate for the original GM springs. Fellow Bolter "3B" made a suggestion on how to possibly make these work for your application.

There are a couple of these brake spring kits here on eBay at the moment that you may want to try and pursue based on the information in the older thread.

If not, post a want ad in the Swap Meets Truck Parts Wanted forum.

Good luck!

PS - Springs from donor Chevy 4000 thru 6000 Series (and similar sized GMC) trucks from 1951 to 1957 will fit your truck.

Many years ago I needed some for my 1-1/2 ton and couldn’t find any. Located a spring shop in OH that made them after I sent them an old one. Also reasonably priced.
I’ll try to find the information if you need it.

I’m using the h605 springs to get my truck back together. With it not being used anymore as a grain truck the difference won’t matter. Thanks for all the help.

Would be of interest to other Big Bolters if you could follow up on your use of the H605 springs please and thanks.. Pictures and a write up of how they fit/worked and any modifications you may have had to do (like new spring holes in the shoes) would help other Bolters possibly in pursuing their own spring replacements.

Let us know.