The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts source for brake springs

does anyone have a source, or part number, for the the rear brake springs for a '59 2 ton 2 speed axle?
Thanks.

P.S. Does it hurt to wash brake parts in naptha if the new cups and seals are neoprene?

I doubt that you will find anything by part number. I would go to one of the heavy truck part dealers in Midland or Odessa and try to match them up. I am assuming you are talking about wheel cylinders. You can was them with most any solvent because you really need to hone them anyway. Cheap "dingle berry" hones can be bought at any auto parts store.

Hy Matthew Blair, I believe I gave you some numbers on the 19th, did they not check out?

I ran those numbers by almost everyone in Midland with no luck. They don't "deal in United" or can't cross them to what they do have. When they search their spring inventory nothing comes close. Most of these guys aren't exactly rocket scientists either. A good parts man is hard to find these days. There are a couple of places in Odessa I have yet to try. The heavy truck parts dealers deal only in air brake stuff. I'll keep trying but I had hoped that someone would have any easy source or solution. Even a used spring would do. Thanks for your help.
Matt

I have a book that crosses United to Euclid. Euclid is kind of the standard now.

Hy Matthew Blair, more research, Wagner numbers 36441 for 15" X 4", 36440 for 15" X 5" rear brakes, if you could give me spring lengths I may be able to find them, Euclid lists a spring set for manually adjusted Wagner brakes p/n E-4027, contains 4 spring 4 1/4" long. and 4 springs 6 5/8" long, replaces Wagner F98318, but I think this set is too new, hope that helps.

Euclid does not have anything to replace a Wagner 36441 which is not encouraging. However, the Bendix and the Raybestos No. is H509
My book doesn't even list the 36440 any more.

Hy Matthew Blair, and crenwelge, I found a Raybestos number for 15" X 5" rear brakes from 1956 - 65 H605 = Napa Up82487 $15.29, this is enough for one wheel, so you would have to order two sets for a single axle truck, unfortunately there are no dimensions in the description, but the picture does show four springs, two different lengths, hope that helps.

one guy thinks he found the Raybestos part after crossing your number to Wagner then Raybestos. We ordered the set and we will see. The spring is about 3-4 inches long. The GM part number is 3694516. The Chevy house gave me that but of course it was discontinued in 1983. You know, the great thing about John Deere Tractors is that I can still go the the John Deere house and get parts for my 1959 730 two cylinder tractor which I still use for farming. Considering their circumstances maybe GM ought to take some lessons. I reallly appreciate y'alls help. Any ideas on building an inexpensive pressure bleeder? As a matter of fact I would like to build an external fluid resevoir so as to make it easier to monitor fluid level. A simple vacuum pump doesn't do the trick nor does manual pumping. The shop manual says a pressure bleeding system is required on hydovac assisted brakes.

Hy Matthew Blair, early 50s Cadillacs had a remote filler mounted to the firewall, for their underfloor master cylinder, maybe you could find one of those. I have manually bled lots of big trucks in my career, but when I was a teenager, one of my friends built a pressure bleeder, using a one gallon can and a soldered in air valve, he used that thing for years, every new master cylinder he encountered meant another trip to the wreckers, to get a cap that would fit, so he could drill and tap it for connection to his pressure bleeder, I think it was 10 p.s.i. max. I hope you find your springs, please let us know which part number and supplier was good.

I made one of those pressure bleeders about 50 years ago and used a Golden Rod bicycle pump for air. The first Diesel truck I drove was an Emmeryville with a hydraulic clutch. My bleeder stayed in the truck as long as I owned the truck and may have stayed in it when I sold it. I now use a similar thing only I use shop air regulated to 10# on my old jalopies.