Spring is here!

[phat46]

Started my '46 chevy for the first time since last summer. It's in the 70's here so it's hard to resist. Went for a shakedown drive and found out the brakes were really weak. Check the m.c. (under the floor, what a p.i.t.a.) and the rear resevoir was empty. Found no leaks on the line so on to the wheels. found a leaky cyl. on passenger side. Now comes the fun part, the rear end was in the car when I bought it in '91; I think its a Nova rearend, not positive though. I guess I'll take the cyl. and shoes to a store and try to match them up. Should be fun since all the real parts stores are gone now and we're left with the computer tappers telling you their computers don't go back that far when they ask you what year car.... after you have already given them the part number you need. I found if you say "no application" sometimes they tap something in that gets things moving.

[wayne petty]

take a picture of the brakes assembled.. with the drum off..


measure the width of the shoes...

see if you can see the size on the wheel cylinder...

this is a 7/8" wheel cylinder from a 73 nova...

http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/bx3/33447/image/4/

notice the line comes straight out...

the brake shoes are #245...     9 1/2 x 2 1/16" brakes

depending on the year.. there are slight variations on the brake drums...

http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/aim/8798/image/4/

Center Bore Diameter (mm):    71.529 MM   2.816"
the hub bore on some axles is stepped..  on other axles is flat to the flange face..


brake spring kit
http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/ibi/H7104/image/4/

right hand adjusting kit

http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/ibi/H2533/image/4/

left hand adjusting kit

http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/ibi/H2532/image/4/


you can use HOT SOAPY water to wash the brake assembly off before taking it apart..   into a clean catch pan.. then drop the parts into it for cleaning also..   clean the inside of the backing plate also...

when installing the wheel cylinder.. please place it into the hole..  and start the tube nut before trying to start any bolts. this lets you align the cylinder to the tube instead of the tube to the cylinder.. makes installing much easier..

a pair of needle nose vice grips slightly pinching the brake hose to the rear axle.. be sure to remove them will stop from the entire brake system from emptying while you are working with the lines open..

while you have the drum off.. please also lift the axle to see if there is any vertical play..  between the axle and the housing.. you might have a worn axle and thrashed axle bearing..

they make a repair bearing that moves the rollers outwards on the axle to an UNworn spot..
http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/tim/TRP1563TAV/image/4/

jegs a few catalogs back had a great price on new axle shafts for these.. like 99 bucks each..

when the bearing wears the axle down.. the brake drum is NOT centered over the brakes like it should be.. so the drum will be high..  this requires more stroke from the piston and soft brake pedals...  whimpee braking..

if you already know all of this.. sorry.. but a LOT of people read... i am trying to spread my knowledge as far as my waistline is..

[phat46]

Thanks Wayne, I just took the parts to an O'reillys. They opened a new one on the other side of town, not that that's a big deal it's still only about three miles to the store. The new store is usually really slow so there's no pressure on the counter guys. I found a guy that actually knows which end of a screwdriver to use. He looked up the number on the cyl. and crossed it to his number; not the right one, but close. His was from a '70 Nova. He tried a '76 nova and bingo there it was. Got new shoes too. So now i know what the rearend is. All back together just ran out of steam before I got to bleed them.