How to Install Drive Axle Brake Return Spring?

[brianzero]

Hi All,

Is there a secret to installing the brake return spring that attaches to both brake shoes on the drive axle? No matter what I do, I cant seem to get any kind of leverage enough to stretch that spring. Whats the trick to this??

[Raymond smith]

I clip vicegrips to it and use a screwdriver as leverage. Hope this helps. Raymond

[chessie4905]

They make a tool to install them. The vise grips and screwdriver works too.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=312228

[brmax]

I learned with some dump trucks and tractors with similar axles, for my own gettr done!
I would leave the s-cam rollers off for the followup moment of that side spring install.
Then easily using the pry bar to lift or push down the bottom shoes end and insert rollers & retainer assemblies. It seemed easier at this point to put the top roller in first as to me push/prying the bottom shoe down was one less stand up from my roll around seat.
( kinda deep i know ; )
If you can imagine laying the shoes out end to end, install the double spring set and just wrap them shoes over, is how I recall, so  Carefully sitting the assembled set atop on its roller and holding the lower shoe while hooking it to its bottom roller the shoe then can be easily cam'd into proper position waiting for you to hook the other final spring. Then there is a few other shoe types that are a pain. Anyway
Hope that can help.


Have a good day
Floyd

[dtcerrato]

Ditto

[brianzero]

Thats right about laying both brake assemblies out, attaching the spring and then 'wrapping' the connected brakes over the hub. I would do that, but there is no room to slide the brakes over the king pin. Maybe Ill take another look at that method.

I learned with some dump trucks and tractors with similar axles, for my own gettr done!
I would leave the s-cam rollers off for the followup moment of that side spring install.
Then easily using the pry bar to lift or push down the bottom shoes end and insert rollers & retainer assemblies. It seemed easier at this point to put the top roller in first as to me push/prying the bottom shoe down was one less stand up from my roll around seat.
( kinda deep i know ; )
If you can imagine laying the shoes out end to end, install the double spring set and just wrap them shoes over, is how I recall, so  Carefully sitting the assembled set atop on its roller and holding the lower shoe while hooking it to its bottom roller the shoe then can be easily cam'd into proper position waiting for you to hook the other final spring. Then there is a few other shoe types that are a pain. Anyway
Hope that can help.

Have a good day
Floyd

[peterbylt]

I just recently did this on the 96A3, I imagine it is very similar.

First I adjusted the S-cam to the point that would give the least tension on the spring.

Then with the shoes not yet mounted on the Bus, I put the spring on the shoes, without the rollers, I mounted the shoes in place, then using a large screwdriver against the spider mounting bolts I was able to pull each of the shoes out far enough to get the rollers in.

I did not have the hub in place at the time, so this might not work for you.



Peter
 

[brianzero]

I got it done, in order to make this work, I pulled the hub and draped the two brake assemblies over the s-cam without the rollers. Its very easy to install the brakes this way. The only thing I sacrificed was the outer axle shaft gasket, so I cut another one.

[dtcerrato]

I agree this is the easiest way to install brakes but I damn near lost a thumb during a pry on the brake shoe to afford clearance for roller install, slipped with my thumb as the victim. Ouch! Since then I have followed the same procedure without injury 

[dtcerrato]

peterbylt you may want to check the condition of your radius rod bushings the one in your photo seems to look really worn to the point where its effecting your rubber bumper to landing plate orientation... from what I can gather in the photo.

[chessie4905]

Yes, that definitely need replaced and both ends, plus other rods.