Installing emergency brake return springs

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Alex Dragone

Does anyone have a picture of what they are supposed to look like when they are installed on the car? I dont understand how they go on. My car had the orignal springs on it and bothe were broken so I dont have a referance. If anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Are you looking for a picture of the springs that pull the band together, or a picture of the spring on the outside of the backing plate that pulls the lever back?

[Richard/Ca]

I fought with mine for ny on two weeks for I gave up. Every time I got the hook on the lever the bottom would pop out. So I decided to order some new ones from Mac's. When they got here I tried to put them on they went so easy I could not believe it. As I suspected the others I had the straight end was to short was not able to stay hook at the bottom. Richard/Ca PS when working on the emergency brake return spring. Pull the main brake lever towards the front the car so it will be out of way.

[Hook]

I have the same problem as Richard had, with the pointed end popping out. What is the pointed end supposed to hook to? One Barner said it should lodge in the crevice between the radius rod and backing plate. Mine pops out when I try to hook it over the Em brake lever.
Attached is a picture of the spring. Is the end too short?
Thanks,
Larry

[Mitch//pa]

one end wraps around the lever and the other rests on the brake actuating rod housing

[Hook]

Thanks. That's the picture I was looking for. The spring appears to be correct, just needed to know where it hooked to. Back at it tomorrow with suggestions on how to from Barners!

[QGolden]

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When I did mine I tried and tried to follow all the tips and tricks to install the springs, to no avail. I finally pulled the Backing Plates and did them on the bench. It was easy to pull the pin from the C, roll the spring around with a screwdriver using the post for leverage, and pop the spring over the arm.

[Afordman31]

I just installed a set today. I had the brake drums off, disconnected the (C) link where it pins to the shaft going thru the backer plate. Next put the spring on the boss where the shaft comes thru. I then installed the key and arm, put the bolt in and tightened it up. The service brake arm was in the way so disconnected the brake rod then tied the brake arm forward, this gave me room to work at getting the spring on the emergency arm. I used a tool with a hook on it ( it was made from a choke cable(knob and spring wire that go's into a choke cable). I then hooked the spring and pulled it up onto the arm. I took all of five minutes to do each side.

[redmodelt]

I say some blue words every time I put those cussed things on, that seems to help.

[jkeesey]

I was planning on shooting a video on how to install the springs today. I got the lights right and had my wife ready to film and we were hit with a bad storm knocking out the power and flooding 1' of water into my front parking lot. Not to mention the hail flying through all the open doors.

[mass A man]

I was wondering why I saved all those worn out rusty brake rods... Know I know. A few years back, my son in law formed this giant "fish hook" out of an old brake rod. It works SO NICE when winding up that darned spring. NO wires, no removing backing plates or pulling on things with vice grips. This is now in my special tool box of "Approved Ford Tools". Isn't he so clever?? I put a quarter near the tool because it appears I did photograph a little fish hook.

[QGolden]

Originally Posted by mass A man

I was wondering why I saved all those worn out rusty brake rods... Know I know. A few years back, my son in law formed this giant "fish hook" out of an old brake rod. It works SO NICE when winding up that darned spring. NO wires, no removing backing plates or pulling on things with vice grips. This is now in my special tool box of "Approved Ford Tools". Isn't he so clever?? I put a quarter near the tool because it appears I did photograph a little fish hook.

I'd like to see it in action.

[IndyA]

Originally Posted by wrndln

I know this has been covered extensively, but I have been trying to install the springs on the emergency brake levers. Unfortunately, the service brakes and emergency brakes are installed on the rearend and all I need to do to finish is install the spring(s). I made a hook tool and I can get the spring within about 3/8" from slipping around the lever. However the spring hangs up at this point and no matter how hard I pull the spring it wont move any farther. It appears the turns on the spring are getting tight on the housing. I bought the springs at Bratton's, so I believe it is not some cheap, non-fitting spring. I also know I have the correct spring on the correct backing plate (checked several picture of the springs for right and left). I know there is a way to install the spring(s) as the the backing plates are assembled, but I would rather not disassemble everything on the plates. Is there a way to just remove the cotter key and pin on the emergency brake shaft and connect the return spring(s) and rotate the shaft back and reinstall the pin and cotter key? Any help would be appreciated.

BTW, I have search the past posts and have not seen the spring binding problem like I have - just using the hook.
Rusty Nelson

The Two-man approach to loading the Parking Brake Return Spring

With the help of another pair of hands, I was able to load the Parking Brake Return Spring in my '29 Model A in about 12 minutes but only after spending hours reading (and trying to understand) other threads, and making a few tools. Other than removing the wheel (so a human head can get above the drum ) and removing the e-brake rod from the cross shaft and the lever, you don't have to remove anything else for this approach.

As mentioned many times the springs have a "left" and a "right". The bent leg of spring rests on the top of service brake cam housing and adjacent to the inner side of the backing plate and the end of that leg points toward the front of the car. The hooked end of the spring curls around emergency lever (above the pinch bolt assembly) with the sides of that hook opening to the rear of the car.

If you haven't done so, remove the old spring (if you had one) and the lever. The lever is held by a "pinch bolt" and a small crescent-shaped Woodruff key that nests in the top side of the shaft.

Two tools are made; a notched screwdriver blade (previously described by others). And a 8" wooden stick (approximately 1"x 3/4" or more) with several angled slots about an inch apart and 3" or 4" from either end of the stick which lead into the center of the stick and ending at a 1/8" diameter hole which runs thru the stick and which is roughly in the center of the stick - this arrangement allows you to change the locations of the cord without having to retie anything. Take a 10-12"" cord (1/8" in dia. or more) which will slip thru the slot and nest in the hole with knots tied in three of four locations along the string and an inch or so apart. These knots serve as an anchor to various string lengths. At one end of the string tie a loop about the diameter of a penny. I will attempt to include a photo of the "tools".

One person gets under the car to handle the notched screw driver... the other "installer" is beside the drum with their head between the top of the drum and the upper inner side of the fender well and mans the looped string and stick.

Place the Return Spring (with no tension on the spring) over the Lever Arm shaft (with the bent spring arm resting in it's designated spot) then place the lever arm on the lever shaft and engaged with the Woodruff Key. Do not attach the Pinch Bolt. The notched screwdriver then raises the hooked arm above the pinch bolt hole in the lever and held in that position while the pinch bolt is then screwed tight against the toggle lever shaft. The string loop is then placed in the spring hook and the screwdriver pushes the hooked end of the spring straight up as far as possible while at the same time the "hands" holding the looped cord is pulling the spring hook toward the front of the car.

Usually, the leg of the hook will catch on the Lever and a little jar with a screw driver will center the spring hook with the lever arm. Don't be surprised that you'll have to cut the string loop... (notice the photo) it's captured between the spring and toggle lever. Hope this helps another mechanic ???

[Scotty H]

Hey guys question about emergency brake 1928 tudor . My brake when engaged you can still push the car but its stops instantly when let go ? So if that is not suppose to happen what does that indicate ? My driving brakes are second to none and stop on a dime . Any ideas thank you .

[larrys40]

Originally Posted by Tom from Drippin'

If we are talking about the return springs on the outside of the backing plate...I have found it's easiest to make a loop of machinest wire, place a piece if broom handle or large dowel through the loop, twist one end of the loop tight to the dowel and hook the other end of the loop on the spring. Then you can pull the spring into position using the dowel as a handle, and cut the wire and pull it out after the spring is hooked. ..... NOTE: The springs are handed..right and left...they are NOT interchangeable!

I do as Tom said if the drum is on.. and sometimes disconnect the C link if the drum is off. I use an old brake clutch pedal shaft with heavy mechanics wire and a loop at the other end twisted to go over the spring. I snake it through the front by the brake shaft and down to loop it. I pull it around.. sometimes a screwdriver with a v split in it helps as a pusher.
I'm use to doing them so it goes pretty quick.

Larry Shepard

[Beauford]

I was just putting mine back on after having to sand down the new brake linings. This time the spring gave out before me. Nothing like paying more for shipping than a stupid spring. I will wait till something else needs to be ordered....always something with this project.

[wbs]

hello- i am inexperienced but recently replaced some springs and basically used mr chauvins excellent note but i thought i would make a few suggestions whi9ch helped me-
1 take off wheel
2remove lever of course but leave it off after inserting spring
3mark where the key groove is on lever hub
4pull service brake rod all the way fwd gives you more working room
5 notice which side of hub is 'in' and which side is out before removing lever
6 put lasso loop over the lever side of the spring
7 put the lever on loosely
8 pull lasso fwd as you slip lever on shaft and catch the spring clip on lever- takes very little force to slip spring clip over lever front
9 rotate hub slihgtly to find the half moon key
10 if hub wont go on all way, make sure of spring loops is not blocking- if so use screw driver to move loop out of way

[Bill G]

Originally Posted by wbs

hello- i am inexperienced but recently replaced some springs and basically used mr chauvins excellent note but i thought i would make a few suggestions whi9ch helped me-
1 take off wheel
2remove lever of course but leave it off after inserting spring
3mark where the key groove is on lever hub
4pull service brake rod all the way fwd gives you more working room
5 notice which side of hub is 'in' and which side is out before removing lever
6 put lasso loop over the lever side of the spring
7 put the lever on loosely
8 pull lasso fwd as you slip lever on shaft and catch the spring clip on lever- takes very little force to slip spring clip over lever front
9 rotate hub slihgtly to find the half moon key
10 if hub wont go on all way, make sure of spring loops is not blocking- if so use screw driver to move loop out of way

Did mine recently too. Those dang things are really not for the faint of heart. "The book" says to assemble the backing plates on the workbench then attach to the Axle.

There was just no acrobatics nor positioning of the levers, prying with anything handy or cuss words that would allow me to put an assembled unit on the axle.

The alternative was to put the backing plate on the axle without the e-brake carrier and assemble the e-brake while on the car. I got lots of practice picking the woodruff keys off the floor and a lot of tries positioning the illustrious spring.

The book (Les Andrews) makes it sound so easy. I would like to see a video of how to get a backing plate with both levers on the dang axle.

I did learn early in the process to temporarily move the service brake lever out of the way.

[IndyA]

Well, here's a fresh idea ..... you first have to disconnect all the linkage (so pull the drum!) Take two small pulleys which will swivel on their eye and connect one end of a rope to the rear fender support brace; put the first pulley on the running board support brace and a second pulley with a loop (use a material that you can later cut with a knife) on the the spring-end - run the road thru the running board pulley, then the pulley at the wheel; get a friend to pull the rope (toward the front of the car) while you lay underneath the wheel with a notched screw driver to guide the spring into its seat.

This method uses the mechanical advantage gained by using two pulleys --- worked for me after spending hours using other methods.

Good Luck...

[QGolden]

Originally Posted by IndyA

Well, here's a fresh idea ..... ....
This method uses the mechanical advantage gained by using two pulleys --- worked for me after spending hours using other methods.

Good Luck...

Sound plausible, but I'd like to see a video!

[stengel]

Just found this ,and Iam a new guy to this model a hobby .Would it be possible to get a pic of the springs installed ? I cannot make out the orientation of the end of the spring location THANKS A BUNCH