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DavidG · 08-11-2014, 08:11 AM

Once you have adjusted the front brakes so that the operating levers are in their normal position they will be forward of the spring shackles and will not touch one another when the brakes are applied. Your spring perches do not appear to be bent, but you may have more wear inside the brake drum (thickness of the drum, wear on the brake shoes, and/or wear in the parts that actuate the shoes) on one side than the other.

The problem with the front spring is not that it is sagging as it appears in your photos to be okay in that regard. There are two problems with your front spring, however. One is wear in the shackles, as you observed, but the other is that the main or bottom leaf of your spring appears to be thicker than an original spring (9/32"). This apparent extra thickness brings the bottom of the spring eyes closer to the top of your front axle than original even with all new shackles. I suggest that you obtain a new main (bottom) leaf (the rest of the spring is likely okay judging from the arch indicated in your photos).

08-11-2014, 08:11 AM	#2
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,104	Re: Model B front end question Once you have adjusted the front brakes so that the operating levers are in their normal position they will be forward of the spring shackles and will not touch one another when the brakes are applied. Your spring perches do not appear to be bent, but you may have more wear inside the brake drum (thickness of the drum, wear on the brake shoes, and/or wear in the parts that actuate the shoes) on one side than the other. The problem with the front spring is not that it is sagging as it appears in your photos to be okay in that regard. There are two problems with your front spring, however. One is wear in the shackles, as you observed, but the other is that the main or bottom leaf of your spring appears to be thicker than an original spring (9/32"). This apparent extra thickness brings the bottom of the spring eyes closer to the top of your front axle than original even with all new shackles. I suggest that you obtain a new main (bottom) leaf (the rest of the spring is likely okay judging from the arch indicated in your photos).