The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 49 1/2 ton rear brakes

I installed new parking brake lines and new rear brake shoes on a 1949 1/2 ton chevy (see link, I hope this works)

Brakes are Hucks.

I have retracted the brake shoes as much as possible but the hub is still binding when I try to put it on, any ideas other than BFH?

http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1140/4216428/9550254/135564259.jpg

From your picture, you're missing the center brake shoe pins, springs and keepers, which will help center your shoes and hold them against the backing plate. You might also crack your brake cylinder bleeder enough to let any pressure out.

Thanks Rusty, the "missing" center brake shoe pins or clips was the topic of long discussion on another poster's thread I reviewed when putting the shoes on. Even the shop manual doesn't show this exact setup (although a few other members commented they also had this setup). See this link to picture showing no center pin, nor anything to pin or clip too.
http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1140/4216428/9550254/135564262.jpg

That's interesting. Your backing plate also does not have the little nubs the brake shoe rides on. I just looked in a 47 and a 50 Master Parts Catalog and both have pictures of the front Huck brakes with the pin and spring . However, in the parts listing the pin and spring is only listed for 1937-48. So apparently GM dropped that spring and pin in 49. Best I can tell from the parts manual.

Your adjuster look to be adjusted really far out for new brake shoes. Are they the correct shoes?
Scott

48 bigtrucks,

They match the existing shoes.

Those Hucks adjusters are interesting, I have them screwed in quite a bit (there is a lot more going inside than you see on the outside). However, it sure seems like there is enough treaded rod left that I ought be be able to adjust them in even more. However, I'm at the point where if I screw either side in more, it seems to be pushing the other side out.

The Hucks have a threaded rod, metal cup, rubber cup, then a spring in the middle, followed by rubber cup, metal cup, threaded rod for the other side (I've double checked to make sure they're in the right order and facing the right direction). Its quite a trick to keep everything together without the special tool shown in the shop manual. Anyone know where a guy could get one of those tools?

48 bigtrucks,

After thinking about your post I looked at my picture again and realized it's misleading, I've screwed the adjusters in a lot more after I took the picture. Sorry for the inaccurate picture.

However, I realized that I was automatically adjusting them equally on both sides, and when I checked the as yet "untouched" brake on the other wheel the adjustment is definitely not equal on both sides. Seems like somebody said something about Hucks not applying pressure equally on both shoes. I'll have to experiment with the adjusters tomorrow.