The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1 1/2 Ton Rear Brake Disassembly Questions

I am working on disassembling the rear brakes on a '45 1 1/2 ton that has sat for approximately 30 years. I have two questions about taking stuff apart before destroying something. They are: 1) The pins that the brake shoes pivot on have some sort of circle clip on the inboard side that retains them. Is this clip a one time use thing that must be destroyed to remove? It looks like it would have been pushed over the beveled end of the pin and snapped into the groove on the pin. Is there something newer to replace them with? Question 2) The emergency brake actuating lever system is retained with a very small pin that bears against a piece of spring steel on the inboard side of the brake backing plate. It looks as though the pin must be removed to remove the levers. Is it just a press fit that can be pushed out and then back in? I have photos that go along with both of these questions but don't know how to post them here. Thanks for any advice!

On question 1. On my 37 the retaining clips that you describe were of fairly heavy gauge steel and I felt very comfortable reusing them. I suspect that finding a replacement would not be entirely difficult. I don't know of a source at the moment.

Well, 2nd question is answered. The pin was a press fit and came out easily.

Hy Memphisdoug, as EricJ stated the clips are reusable, bend the edge up just enough to slide the clip off of the pin. When reinstalling slip the clip over the pin and push the edge down so that the clip cannot come off of the pin, hope that helps.

Is there someplace to get new clips? A couple have already been damaged beyond reuse by overzealous attempts to remove by others.

http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/cart/product.asp?prodid=MEB325&i=10241|||

Look at the measure on these and see if they will work. It is possible they are too small, but measure and see. Otherwise Jim Carter's is calling them a Warped Retaining Washer.