Brake Job "Those Shoe Clips"

[mikewitt]

Hi all... newbe here. But I have been really impressed with the generous help you members offer. I'm gonna need lots of advise.
So... since I am new here. Let me ask a couple of dumb questions.

My project arrived from Texas, it's a really clean and original 47 Tudor. But, no brakes, pedal went to the floor and emergency was barley working.

So... for the last month and a half, I have struggled through brake repair. Rebuilt Cylinders, cleaned everything and plenty of meat left on drums and shoes. Almost got it back together,

THOSE SHOE HOLD DOWN CLIPS....is there a tool or secret to put them back on?. Tired of chasing them around the garage. Do I really need them?

I would like to acquire a rear drum puller. got mine off but I'm out of dynamite.

The newbe.

[jrhaelig]

I kinda think that any clip that came with my brakes is going to be important to me.......somewhere, some day.

As far as your hub puller I've been really happy with this one. http://www.vintageprecision.com/products/hub_pullers/

[ford38v8]

Mike, Those clips are absolutely worth their weight in gold. Without the clips, just try to get your drums off to do your next brake job. You'll dredge up cuss words you haven't used since boot camp.

Using the right hub puller is equally important, as you've already found out. KR Wilson made the originals for Ford, reproductions are available today. Not cheap, but worth every dime.

http://vintageprecision.com/products/hub_pullers/

[flatheadfan]

MIke-

As others have stated, you need those clips. Without them you would have some truly strange braking. If you talk to ten people you will probably come up with 11 different ways to do this but here is my approach.

First mount the wheel cylinder and assembly and the shoes with their spring. Insert the clips in their slots. Put the shoe-spring assembly on the backing plate notched into the wheel cylinder. Move the shoes close to the clip. Use a screwdriver to lift up the open edge of the clip and use a rubber hammer to knock the shoe in and under the screwdriver. Pull out the screwdriver and the clip is on securely. Finally lift the lower edge of each brake shoe up and slide it over the lower posts. Center each "floater"and cover with the retainer plate and cotter pins.

Hope this is of some help.

Tom

[Talkwrench]

Thanks for putting up next time Im going to try your way [if I haven't already], like you say there is few ways of doing it and sometimes it works first time other times pfft! can stuff around with it for ages..

[mikewitt]

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Thanks everyone, I knew I'd be doing this right. It's still up on blocks and I'm going back in.
Report to follow

[mikewitt]

Great help. Tom.
Did like you said and only cussed a little. Still not done with these brakes, but my bad, stripping out that brake line thread. Plus, waiting on new Emergency Brake cable.... Hunpy's was all fraid on the Pax side.