C1 Rear Brake Install question

[Donald H.]

I have attached a picture that I "borrowed" from Richard Mozzetta's web site of a 59 restoration. Note the red arrow and the sliver spring it points to. The spring is on the bar that is part of the park brake. The bar goes between the park brake lever on the trailing shoe and the front shoe.

My restoration is a 60. I bought brake shoes and hardware kits from NAPA and this spring was not included. Also, this spring was not on my car when I took the brakes apart. But that doesn't mean much given other Bubba things done to the car in the past.

Where can I get this spring, and is it necessary?

I've going to scour the auto supplies but asking for something like this for a 50 year old car, I sometimes get blank stares

Thanks

Don

[Domenic T.]

Re: C1 Rear Brake Install question

Don,
You shouldn't have any trouble finding that spring as it is common to many drum brakes.

DOM

[Dan D.]

Re: C1 Rear Brake Install question

FYI, I bought brake hardware kits from Zip a couple of years ago, and sure enough, when I came to install them that spring was not part of the kit. So I dug out my old hardware (never throw anything away), cleaned up the springs, painted them and used them.
Not sure exactly what that spring is suppose to do, but I think it is just a anti-chatter spring and probably will work fine without them. I was not sure what end of the bar they went on or if the tang went up or down, but there was only one way that it seemed to fit right. I believe it is the way shown in your pic. -Dan-

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 Rear Brake Install question

FYI, I bought brake hardware kits from Zip a couple of years ago, and sure enough, when I came to install them that spring was not part of the kit. So I dug out my old hardware (never throw anything away), cleaned up the springs, painted them and used them.
Not sure exactly what that spring is suppose to do, but I think it is just a anti-chatter spring and probably will work fine without them. I was not sure what end of the bar they went on or if the tang went up or down, but there was only one way that it seemed to fit right. I believe it is the way shown in your pic. -Dan-

Yea, I suspected it was mostly for anti-chatter from the looks. Unfortunately I don't have old ones to reuse. I've been to 4 different local auto supply stores and no luck. I've looked at all the online stores I can think of and no luck there either.

[John F.]

Re: C1 Rear Brake Install question

Try a salvage yard.

[Dan D.]

Re: C1 Rear Brake Install question

Yea, I suspected it was mostly for anti-chatter from the looks. Unfortunately I don't have old ones to reuse. I've been to 4 different local auto supply stores and no luck. I've looked at all the online stores I can think of and no luck there either.

Yea, I think a bone yard would be your best choice. As Dom says, they are on every old drum brake car I have ever seen. Better yet, I would think someone here on the forum would have a couple in their junk collection they would be willing to give you.
-Dan-

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 Rear Brake Install question

Yea, I think a bone yard would be your best choice. As Dom says, they are on every old drum brake car I have ever seen. Better yet, I would think someone here on the forum would have a couple in their junk collection they would be willing to give you.
-Dan-

Not any good salvage yards near me, they've all been shut down. I will try the hardware stores, If I can find a compression spring that will fit around the park brake level mechanism. From the picture I have, it doesn't look to be a particularly strong spring. Looks like it more or less it is insurance to keep the parts together.

[Dennis C.]

Re: C1 Rear Brake Install question

Don,

A Google search for drum brake springs brings up this site and the picture of the kit has the spring you are looking for.

http://www.amazon.com/Raybestos-H17391-Drum-Brake-Spring/dp/B001DAEH5K

[Dennis C.]

Re: C1 Rear Brake Install question

Better yet, Corvette Central has the springs you need (#191091) right here:

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000050e~Z5Z5Z5AALEN~P29.95~~~~S35P14N3K769112117180i~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000050x

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 Rear Brake Install question

Better yet, Corvette Central has the springs you need (#191091) right here:

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050x

Great! I swear I searched all the normal site for drum brake parts. What did you search for to find these?

Edit - Yes I found them now. I was using 1960 as my search parameter and didn't get any hits.

Thanks Dennis, I had given up on the usual sources.

[Dennis C.]

Re: C1 Rear Brake Install question

Glad I could help. Good luck.

[Domenic T.]

Re: C1 Rear Brake Install question

Don,
Why don't you go to a shop with the picture and a buck in your hand and get the right spring,
Any brake shop or super center should have it.

DOM