Rookie Rear Brake Question

[dhbfaster]

Need some advice from the board of advisors...
I am trying to get the brakes back on the rear axle and had hoped to get the rear axle back on the car today...but I ran into a couple concerns::doh:

1) I'm installing a new spring/hardware kit. The new spring that goes between the bottom of the two pads is the green one in the pictures. The new green one is longer than the previous one and appears to obviously mount to a different hole on one side. 4049 I thought...wow, someone came up with a new spring arrangement and make this spring now MUCH easier to put on then the old one??....but did I put it on correctly?? (See the new spring pic..) It looks like the only way that makes sense to me- and the tension seems right... unless this is just the wrong spring.
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2) I installed a new parking brake cable...but WOW there is a lot of spring tension. You can see it's bulged out a bit in the pic I named ParkingBrakeTension..it's right above the green spring. It was difficult to install.
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(Unfortunately- I made the rookie mistake of throwing the old one away a while ago...I thought I checked and made sure it was the same, but now I'm questioning.:doh:) It seems like this much spring tension will make it quite difficult to pull the brake. I remember someone at one of the meetings had this problem...and I'm just thinking....humm...maybe this was the problem? OR, is this normal and it will be just fine after I get the cable hooked back up to the car?


Thanks for any help in advance!!

[Luva65wagon]

It all looks correct to me. Getting those e-brake cable ends over the lever is never fun, but that's what they look like unhooked. Looks good!

[dhbfaster]

Well...good to know- at least I feel good about the spring now. However...I found the box for the cable...it's Melvins part S2105...Rear parking brake cable for a falcon wagon or sedan delivery BEFORE 5/1/61. I'm not sure how that happened...and I'm not sure what the difference is, but I think I'm going to order the correct one and find out. If any club members can use this one, let me know.

[Luva65wagon]

The part that goes in the drum end is always the same based upon drum diameter (I assume 9" in this case) but the other end - length of cable - varies with body length. Chances are if you were trying to connect to the e-brake parts at the tranny cross member it might be too long if for a wagon and not a sedan. Most of what I find on Falcons say the wheelbase is the same, so not sure what the difference might be.

[dhbfaster]

Just noticed that....Mac's shows the wagon/delivery cable 165 1/2, and the normal sedan cable is 151 5/16. So, maybe I just got lucky to find this. The inside ends seemed awful long, but if it's the same...then it is what it is. At least I will know.

[PhilC]

Don the green spring in your picture should be a shoe return spring. It would attach to the anchor above the wheel cylinder. That's what there's a long piece of straight wire above the coils, and the odd bend at the other end where it would attach to the shoe.

The old spring in the same picture is the correct one for attaching the primary and secondary shoes and providing tension to the brake adjuster star wheel. ;)

[dhbfaster]

Phil,
I also thought the green one looks like the return spring, BUT, the kit came with two white return springs for each side, and only one green spring for each side...which is why I was concluding it must be to replace the bottom one. ((an improvement ??)) Meanwhile...I checked a different brand kit for the front- same situation, two white springs for each side, one green...and the same green one. I'll try to upload a picture of the white ones later...

[dhbfaster]

Here's the white springs:

The green one is actually shorter and smaller in diameter.

[redfalken]

Here's a few diagrams I collected when I was installing the 8" rear end in my `62. And the bet shot I could find of how I did mine.

[Jeff W]

I couldn't find pictures without the auto adjusters. It's been a long time since I worked on the old type without the auto adjuster arm.

[PhilC]

Here's a link to the shop manual showing spring arrangement for manual adjusters - http://falconfaq.dyndns.org/display1.php?Path=Falcon_Shop_Manual_60-62&db=Falcon&table=FSM_6062&Page=9-020

Sounds like your parts kit may have been for a car with self adjusting brakes. [thumb]

[Jeff W]

Here's a link to the shop manual showing spring arrangement for manual adjusters - http://falconfaq.dyndns.org/display1.php?Path=Falcon_Shop_Manual_60-62&db=Falcon&table=FSM_6062&Page=9-020

[thumb]


THAT"S what I was lookig for! Nice work PhilC!

Don, Pay attention to the "FRONT OF CAR" arrow on the diagram. The first brake job - I did both sides to match the picture rather than mirror images... almost put me in the ditch:o

[dhbfaster]

WOW, makes sense. The green spring that came with my kit is for the style with the auto adjusters....so, now I understand mine does not auto-adjust!? (I wondered how that spring was going to turn that thing...:ROTFLMAO:) Really, my old springs for the bottom are fine. Just a bit more difficult to install. I'll use them!

Meanwhile...on the parking brake cable....I called my supplier-call them supplier A (nice people, and very helpful actually...so I'll keep them all nameless), they agreed to take the wagon cable back even though I installed it and six months after I bought it from them. I asked if they would measure the relaxed spring length on this same part number-for the wagan, and compare it to the correct part number for my car...they said they measure about the same, and the one for my car actually had a slightly longer one...humm. So I emailed supplier B. Asked them if they wouldn't mind measuring the relaxed spring length for the correct part number for my car...they did, and IT'S TWO INCHES SHORTER than mine is. Ok, now that seems like it would fit. I'll call supplier A again...and ask what the actual measurements were. I'll keep you posted.

I do have that same page out of the manual showing the brakes looking exactly like mine...and that is what promped the question out to the forum. Now that I've been able to compare that with the pics Kenny had..it's all clear. I DID also notice how easy it would be to mess up one side and not pay attention to "front of car"...very careful on that. Thanks!! How does anyone restore a falcon without the Ranier Falcons??:rocker:

[Luva65wagon]

Don, you can use that green spring. It's just a different method of attaching the one end. I did some measuring on the screen and it's fine. That style is usually used for return springs, but was working fine for what it was doing - holding the adjuster from rotating and keeping the bottom shoes tight against the adjuster ends.

[Luva65wagon]

I just measured again and the green spring functional length is a little longer. As long as it's riding on the adjuster to keep it from spinning, you're fine. But use the originals if in doubt. Brakes are something you want to be certain about.

[dhbfaster]

Agree...the old ones are fine so I'll use them. I really bought the kit mostly for the shoe holders- and figured I might as well replace the springs.

[PhilC]

Agree...the old ones are fine so I'll use them. I really bought the kit mostly for the shoe holders- and figured I might as well replace the springs.
That's what I'd do in your case. Hit all the usual sources looking for a non-adjustable brake hardware kit, but found none. Since yours are serviceable problem solved. [thumb]