The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Whats the differance between the 58-59 1/2 Brakes?

I'm looking at the Tim Tygart's obsolete Chevy catalog looking at the Brake Shoe Spring & Pin kit. Part # BHK001 (I would post a link to the web-site but it doesn't show a picture so it wont help much) anyway it includes all the springs adjusting screws and the "J" hook with coil springs. It has the years listed for 1951-1958 and the next set is for 1960-1963. What the heck happened to the 1959 brakes that there so different than the 58's... Could I possible use the set for 1958 1/2 tons to use on my 1959 1/2 ton, and if not were can I find a set of springs and adjusting screws? I've looked at LMC,classic Chevy,brothers and so on and can not find anything. Please help. Thanks for your time. Oh and if I posted this in the wrong area , I'm sorry......JOSH

The only thing I know of that's different between '58 and '59 on 1/2 ton brakes is the drums on the '59s with Positraction, which uses a Spicer 45 GMC spec axle instead of the Chevrolet axle.

Well I know I dont have Posi so should I be ok with ordering the brake springs and adjusting screw set for a 58? Wonder why they have it listed for the 58 and not the 59. Typo maybe?

I had an eaton HO33 in my 59 jimmy... not from the factory, but from a PO. Anyway I got a 60s something 12bolt to replace it, and most if not all the brake parts would swap over, including the drums, cylinders and shoes. I ended up not using the 12 bolt. I am now placing a full floating 9 inch rear in my truck.

The 59's use the same hardware and the same drums as the earlier trucks but use a wider shoe on the rear. It happens to be the same as used on the front. The narrower shoe used on a 55-57 rear will work as well.
Fred