The Ford Barn

37coop · 01-25-2018, 09:18 AM

Well,after a frustrating wasted five hours I,v come down from the garage for a cup of tea.the problem is I,v tried to remove the front shoes for new linings ,the adjusting bolts at the bottom of the shoes are solid,they won't undo to remove them,so because I haven't got the luxury of a lift and I am doing the work lying on my back I thought it would be easier to remove the backing plates so I can do the work on my bench but the four bolts on each plate that possibly hasn't been off for many years are turning from the hub end ...the square of the bolt is not being secured by the lip ( hope I,v explained properly) , I,m sure I,m not the first with this issue ,the square end is difficult to grip to stop it turning ,any ideas? Thanks. Jim.

Kube · 01-25-2018, 09:29 AM

This is a common occurrence with plates (those bolts / nuts) that perhaps have never been removed prior to this.
Don't fret...
Did you remove the entire cotter pin from each bolt? The entire pin?
I go at this one of two ways. 1) Jam a screw driver blade between the flat spot on the bolt head and the lip of the hub. 2) Grab the head of the bolt with a locking pliers.
These two methods have proven successful 99% of the time.
The other 1%? Cut the nut off.

37coop · 01-25-2018, 09:36 AM

Cheers Kube, if anyone would know you would, Tea finished now continue with the cussing ,thanks

Kube · 01-25-2018, 09:37 AM

Cussing helps

19Fordy · 01-25-2018, 09:48 AM

37coop,
It won't be concourse correct but, you can replace those OEM bolts with hex bolts.
I used Grade 8, although I bet Henry used Grade 5. First photo is 1940 backing plate.
Second photo is MT Brake Products 39 Lincoln backing plate.

Tim Ayers · 01-25-2018, 10:18 AM

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Jim:

If time is on your side, soak those puppies with penetrating oil for a few days. Years of heat, water, rust, road muck can make these a change a times.

As Kube said, make sure the cotter pin is completely removed. If it breaks, that little nub can be catching the castle nut.

If you have access to an impact gun, that can help, but I'd soak them for a few days if you have the luxury of time.

Good luck.

cas3 · 01-25-2018, 12:29 PM

i took an old 3/4" wrench and bent it with the torch to a Z shape to clear the tin grease shield and get on the square head bolts. its better, but they are still a bugger.

37coop · 01-25-2018, 12:49 PM

Thanks guys...glad it's not just me, nothing has been simple with this car,aggro every step of the way ...cheers

swoopNZ · 01-25-2018, 03:45 PM

Worst case scenario - remove the king pins and take off the whole assembly.

V12Bill · 01-25-2018, 05:07 PM

Just removed the front backing plates on my 1950 F1. Had the same problem. Mine used marson nuts so no cotter pins. I soaked them in 50/50 mixture of ATF and acetone, used heat and 6 of the 8 came off with no problem. The last two I used the air chisel to split the nuts. Seems this was not one of Henry's better ideas.

01-25-2018, 09:18 AM	#1
37coop Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: kent , u.k Posts: 519	39 coupe backing plate bolts removal Well,after a frustrating wasted five hours I,v come down from the garage for a cup of tea.the problem is I,v tried to remove the front shoes for new linings ,the adjusting bolts at the bottom of the shoes are solid,they won't undo to remove them,so because I haven't got the luxury of a lift and I am doing the work lying on my back I thought it would be easier to remove the backing plates so I can do the work on my bench but the four bolts on each plate that possibly hasn't been off for many years are turning from the hub end ...the square of the bolt is not being secured by the lip ( hope I,v explained properly) , I,m sure I,m not the first with this issue ,the square end is difficult to grip to stop it turning ,any ideas? Thanks. Jim.

01-25-2018, 09:29 AM	#2
Kube Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 9,007	Re: 39 coupe backing plate bolts removal This is a common occurrence with plates (those bolts / nuts) that perhaps have never been removed prior to this. Don't fret... Did you remove the entire cotter pin from each bolt? The entire pin? I go at this one of two ways. 1) Jam a screw driver blade between the flat spot on the bolt head and the lip of the hub. 2) Grab the head of the bolt with a locking pliers. These two methods have proven successful 99% of the time. The other 1%? Cut the nut off. __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".

01-25-2018, 09:36 AM	#3
37coop Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: kent , u.k Posts: 519	Re: 39 coupe backing plate bolts removal Cheers Kube, if anyone would know you would, Tea finished now continue with the cussing ,thanks

01-25-2018, 09:37 AM	#4
Kube Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 9,007	Re: 39 coupe backing plate bolts removal Cussing helps __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".

01-25-2018, 10:18 AM	#6
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,181	Re: 39 coupe backing plate bolts removal Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Jim: If time is on your side, soak those puppies with penetrating oil for a few days. Years of heat, water, rust, road muck can make these a change a times. As Kube said, make sure the cotter pin is completely removed. If it breaks, that little nub can be catching the castle nut. If you have access to an impact gun, that can help, but I'd soak them for a few days if you have the luxury of time. Good luck.

01-25-2018, 12:29 PM	#7
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,577	Re: 39 coupe backing plate bolts removal i took an old 3/4" wrench and bent it with the torch to a Z shape to clear the tin grease shield and get on the square head bolts. its better, but they are still a bugger.

01-25-2018, 12:49 PM	#8
37coop Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: kent , u.k Posts: 519	Re: 39 coupe backing plate bolts removal Thanks guys...glad it's not just me, nothing has been simple with this car,aggro every step of the way ...cheers

01-25-2018, 03:45 PM	#9
swoopNZ MEMBER EMERITUS Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,380	Re: 39 coupe backing plate bolts removal Worst case scenario - remove the king pins and take off the whole assembly.

01-25-2018, 05:07 PM	#10
V12Bill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mt. Holly,NJ Posts: 1,822	Re: 39 coupe backing plate bolts removal Just removed the front backing plates on my 1950 F1. Had the same problem. Mine used marson nuts so no cotter pins. I soaked them in 50/50 mixture of ATF and acetone, used heat and 6 of the 8 came off with no problem. The last two I used the air chisel to split the nuts. Seems this was not one of Henry's better ideas.