rear radius rod bracket

[mcoomey]

What are the round brackets with a hole in the middle on the rear radius rods used for? It seems that perhaps the emergency brake rod should pass through there, but it doesn't quite align without bending the rod.

[Marshall V. Daut]

There are two service and emergency brake rod return springs that are anchored here. Two style of springs: flat for 1928-1930 (maybe early 1931?) and wound springs for 1931. Check the service bulletins for orientation of these springs.
Marshall

[mcoomey]

Thanks for the reply, Marshall. I have to confess to being somewhat of a newbie when it comes to the Model A. I'm doing a second restoration of a '31 Coupe that my father and I originally did some 40+ years ago when I was a kid.

I'm not sure what you mean by flat versus wound springs. My car has a spring coiled around the e-brake lever on the backing plate, but no evidence of any spring that would anchor on that bracket. Should there be one there or was that just a hold-over from an earlier design?

Also, where might I find the service bulletins?

[mcoomey]

*** UPDATE: I just found this drawing that explains a lot. My car is currently missing these retracting springs. I hope they're available for purchase through one of the suppliers.

[Bob C]

I think the later 1931 wire style are better than the flat one's.
https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...7613&cat=41655

[mcoomey]

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Thanks, Bob! I just placed an order for them at my local supplier, Tam's Model A Parts.
https://www.modelaparts.com/a2504w

[JayJay]

Just so you don't get confused when you install them, the springs are intended to PUSH the brake rods towards the backing plates - in other words, to unload the brakes. So they go onto the brake rods on the side AWAY from the backing plates that the brake rod services. For the rear rods (service brake and emergency brake) they go onto the forward side of the lump in the brake rod and push backwards when fastened to the radius rod. You will put the springs onto the brake rods before you screw on the adjustable heads.

[mcoomey]

Thanks for the heads up, JayJay. It was during this job that I discovered that the springs on the emergency brake levers on the backing plates were installed backwards about 40 years ago! Too bad we didn't have forums like this back then.

[mcoomey]

I received a set of wire coil type springs that consist of 4 long and 2 short springs. I've mounted a short and a long on each side for the rear service brake and emergency brake.

That leaves a pair of long ones for the front rods, but I don't see anywhere near the bump in the rod that they can be mounted. Perhaps I'm missing a bracket for the fronts???

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by mcoomey

I received a set of wire coil type springs that consist of 4 long and 2 short springs. I've mounted a short and a long on each side for the rear service brake and emergency brake.

That leaves a pair of long ones for the front rods, but I don't see anywhere near the bump in the rod that they can be mounted. Perhaps I'm missing a bracket for the fronts???

There are tabs on the frame about 4 inches or so behind the motor mounts. The adjusters for the front brakes are at the front (at the backing plates), do you by chance have those rods in backwards? If you have side-mount spare the tabs are kinda hidden.

[Bob C]

Here is a picture from Marco's site.

[mcoomey]

Thanks, JayJay, for your continued support with this issue. It looks like I'm missing a bracket from the frame to attach the springs to. I'm fairly certain that I've got the rod and spring positioned correctly -- clevis to the front and spring pushing the rod forward toward the tire.

As shown in the first photo, the bump on the rod is about 4" behind the motor mount and the second photo shows some holes in the frame about where I suspect the bracket should bolt.

It's easy enough to make up a bracket, but if anyone has a photo of what it should look like that would help. Thanks in advance!

[mcoomey]

Originally Posted by Bob C

Here is a picture from Marco's site.

Thanks, Bob C! Just what I was looking for. (Your post arrived as I was typing my request!!

[Bob Bidonde]

While you are working with the brake rod supports, consider this fix to stop rattling of the rods in the brackets.