Rear Brakes and Backing Plate R & R Question W/Pictures

[Ratatat]

I'm working on the rear brakes on my 29. The axel seal had been leaking for who knows how long and the driver side rear brakes are just a mess. I'm trying to get the backing plate off and it appears that you have to remove the service brake actuating arm which is held in place by a pin. My question is how do you get the pin out or is there another way to remove the backing plate?
Here are some pics of the pin along with a diagram.
Thanks in advance for any help.

[RawhideKid]

You do not need to remove either arms from the brakes.

Once you have the drum off, the service brake arm can be rotated forward about 60° and you will have access to the bolt head.

The only thing I did was remove the springs off the e-brake band to get at the nuts.

I know, I know, I should have taken pictures because I just finished doing mine.

It ain't that hard to do.

[aermotor]

Originally Posted by RawhideKid

It ain't that hard to do.

Be patient and practice holding your mouth right.

John

[Ratatat]

I have everything apart. I have the drum off, e-brake band off, the brake shoes off, the backing plate nuts are all off. The rods off the arms. Unless I'm missing something here the only reason I cant get the backing plate removed is because the arm is still on and I can't re-position the backing plate to allow the service brake arm through the radius arm. Do I have to loosen the radius arm to remove the backing plate? The pictures are of the arm and pin taken of the passenger side brake.
I'm definitely no mechanic and the books I have found don't really address the situation.

[larrys40]

Yes, you do NOT have to remove the arm to remove the backing plates .
As said remove the drum,make sure the e brake lever arm, outer return spring Nd key are removed by removing the clamp bolt that holds it tight and pull off. A small old chisel or screwdriver driven in the slot may help to remove.
Then with drum off force the service brake lever full forward pushing it over the cam. It should stay there if done right. Then you can remove the 4 backing plate bolts and remove the e brake carrier and then the backing plate. If you pull off and rotate it while the lever comes out the opening in the radius rod at the housing there is just enough room and clearance for removal. No need to undo radius bolts from either end. I do these probably every week on an A so those that say you have to remove radius rod are mistaken as it is not necessary .

From that point it is abench job and full backing plate restoration including bushing replacement and track service is in order
Larry Shepard

[Ratatat]

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Thanks Larry, as you can see in he second set of pics I really have a mess on my hands. Nothing is clear because it's all covered in gunk.

[jw hash]

remove the radius rods. it makes the work on the rear backing plates easier and it takes less time in the long run.

[silvertop]

Just drop the radius rod, much easier.

[larrys40]

Originally Posted by Ratatat

Thanks Larry, as you can see in he second set of pics I really have a mess on my hands. Nothing is clear because it's all covered in gunk.

Yes, that's a lot of grease and gunk. Looks like you have the tarp out so with the backing plates off you can clean things up. I would just get them off and clean them up on the bench and parts washer. I know the other two subsequent post said pull the radius rods but then I really can't imagine why. You have to remove the bolts anyway and you really just force the lever forward and in 30 seconds its snaked out the slot. I do these all the time and I would never remove the radius rod unless I have another problem requiring that. Once you force the lever forward... it will lock there and you can pull the backing plate off angling it off the end of the axle and the brake arm out the hole between the radius rod and axle housing. Piece of cake!

make sure you do any full rebuilding once cleaned... roller tracks, bushings, etc. The good thing is that the grease probably made the backing plates much better than they would have otherwise been.

Larry

[Jim M]

I have done this about 5 times in the last two years. One bolt and the radius rods come out. I worked for quite a while the first time and became so frustrated I was about to take the BFH to them. But walked away for a while and saw a post suggesting taking off the radius rods. Went back down to the shop, took the rods off and both backing plates in less than 10 minutes! You will never try it again without taking off the rods.

[denniskliesen]

Before I knew about the radius rod thing, I just took the park brake lever off. Haven't had to do it a second time yet.

[Ratatat]

Thank you to everyone for the advice.

[Al 29Tudor]

Is the bearing seal leaking or the axle seal leaking?

[Ratatat]

Originally Posted by Al 29Tudor

Is the bearing seal leaking or the axle seal leaking?

That's a good question? Have to investigate a little further. Would the symptoms be the same, allowing rear end oil to migrate to the brakes?

[Ratatat]

Oops.