C1 Front Brake Install Question

[Brett B.]

Hi All:

I am the proud owner of a 1961 Corvette and I am new to this forum.

I am looking forward to all the valuable resources available from the knowledgeable members on this board.

Hopefully I can contribute as well!

I am currently installing new front brakes on this car and have come across a couple of issues.

I have purchased new brake shoes and a spring kit from a reliable Corvette supplier - but I am curious.

1) The brand new bonded primary brake shoe (the shorter one) has a thicker pad than the secondary brake shoe.

2) The primary and secondary shoe brake return springs are the same size and color (gray) , so I assume they are the same tension.

From what I have researched, and from the Chevrolet shop manual I have, the primary shoe is supposed to use a gray spring with less tension and the secondary shoe uses a stiffer black spring.

I have not been able to find anybody that sells a kit with the gray and black spring, nor have I been able to find them sold separately either.

Furthermore, I have never seen new brake shoes that different thickness to them?

I talked to a well known C1 Corvette service/restoration facility and he told me the following:

"The shoe thickness difference is due to the fact that the primary shoe uses a softer material and wears faster, so that is why it is thicker. The springs
you have will work fine even though they are the same tension. We use this setup all the time and have no problem"

Is he correct?

I am curious as to what the C1 owners here think?

Thanks for any help.

BB

[Bill M.]

Re: C1 Front Brake Install Question

2) The primary and secondary shoe brake return springs are the same size and color (gray) , so I assume they are the same tension.

From what I have researched, and from the Chevrolet shop manual I have, the primary shoe is supposed to use a gray spring with less tension and the secondary shoe uses a stiffer black spring.

I have not been able to find anybody that sells a kit with the gray and black spring, nor have I been able to find them sold separately either.

I talked to a well known C1 Corvette service/restoration facility and he told me the following:

"The springs you have will work fine even though they are the same tension. We use this setup all the time and have no problem"

Is he correct?

I am curious as to what the C1 owners here think?

Thanks for any help.

BB

The racing brakes used the same tension (dark green) springs for all 8 positions.

My guess is that the different tensions (gray, black) were for a smoother, more progressive, engagement. The softer springed shoe would contact the drum first, preloading the shoes against the anchor pin before full contact and full brake force...maybe.

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 Front Brake Install Question

Brett,

I recently rebuilt all 4 positions on a 59 using riveted shoes and new Delco spring kits. As you can see they are the same tension(color) and length. They were much stronger than the ones originally on the car, which were in fact less beefy than these new ones. Other than being more difficult to install than the originals, I feel they will be better overall.

Rich