The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk What's the deal on my '58 GMC brakes?

I went down to my FLAPS and ordered new rear brake shoes and wheel cylinders for my ' 58 GMC. When I got the parts home I could see they were definitely the wrong parts. When I compared my original shoes and cylinders to my Chevy they were exactly the same. I know what you're thinking...maybe the rearend has been swapped for a Chevy at some point but the rear looks like a dana type and does not match the rear on my Chevy. Were brake parts interchangeable between Chevy and GMC in 1958 even though the rearends are different? Is there something else going on here? Anyone have pics of their '58 GMC 100 rear brakes? I guess I can just order Chevy parts as they seem to be correct (at least that is what was on there and the new parts don't even look close to that.) I'm puzzled now.

Some GMCs of that era had Spicer rear ends. I put one under my '56 Chevy. I used Chevy cylinders and shoes with the Spicer drums and have had no problems.

If the third member doesn't un-bolt from the front, it is a Spicer.

Looks like you have 2 choices. HO33 axle uses 5453778and79 which were replaced by 5455485and86. Spicer axle uses 2346825and26 wheel cylinders. If your third member bolts to the housing, it is a HO33. If the third member and axle housing are all one piece, it is a Spicer. Shoes are 3742645 for the H033 and 2346872 if you have a Spicer. These are GMC numbers. I am not sure if Chev and GMC are same. I only have GMC books and Hollander does not list a GMC for that year.

Thanks gentlemen,

As soon as the sun comes up I'll take a better look at my axle to see what I have. I guess if it was working OK with Chevy brakes before, then that's what I'll use. That actually makes it easier.

Yep, looks like mine is a Spicer according to the descriptions above. I'll use the Chevy parts. It's kind of convenient to have a Chevy and GMC side by side to compare parts.