Anyone know where I can get new spindle dust caps? The onces in Classic parts look significantly different than the origional more rounded ones. Mine are pretty beat up.
Denis, here's a thought. Go to your local junkyard and scour it for any GM vehicle, be it car or truck from the late '30's through early '60's and get a couple of them. They clean up easily, as most of them are well preserved in grease, dirt and dust. An old school mechanic, back in the day, would have packed the bearings and lovingly put the dust cover back on by tapping the edge of the dust cover instead of whacking the crap out of it to put it back on! 5 minutes on a wire wheel on a bench grinder will make them look brand new!
Judical Punishment Denis, I had a similar problem, The dust covers are available at most of your neighborhood "Flaps". One problem I ran into was when I used the chrome rims and Baby Moons from our sponsor. The dust cover sat too high and would not allow the hubcap to go on. I have found some low setting ones at the store, but in the end I had to flatten my new one a bit by gently persuading it with my Ball Peen hammer! Flashlight
dust caps Thanks I did clean up the first one and it looks ok but lots of dents, I may work on it more. Denis
Thanks I am sure you all get it, but nothing better than being in the garage, music on and taking your time taking old and dirty to new and clean. I choose to wire wheel all the reusable parts. Enjoyable work. Now I am working the rear. Left drum came off no issue, right is giving me a challenge. I have very little movement and I have already ensured the brake star adjustment is backed off completely. Drum rotates fine but is stuck. I shot it with penetrating spray and will let it sit. Any other ideas?
Um ; It appears you maybe have the shoes backwards if that's the right front...... Or am I just too tired again ? .
I replaced the springs with new ones, new shoes and new wheel cylinders. I wire wheeled all other hardware, and cleaned the drums with brake cleaner.
The pictures are rotated a bit but I think it is correct. The old picture is from the left and the new one from the right I believe.
You are correct I forgot to look at the lining length. Thanks I will correct. I really appreciate your willingness to point this out.
cleaning I am in the midst of inspecting and cleaning my brakes and went to Harbour Freight and bought a vibrator polisher took the parts off and threw them in there while i worked around the shop I am about to put things back together today after painting. I did not have to replace the cylinders or the linings as that was done by the PO but there was rust on everything and Rust never sleeps. I guess Ill have to take some pictures and post Bill
Leading & Trailing Shoes No worries ! . Some guys (those mean old GMC fellows) wouldn't have said anything then left you pondering ' I thought these whiz-bang Bendix brakes were supposed to be better than Huck (rhymes with , well you know)brakes....... ' . As a dedicated Journeyman Mechanic I could hardly do that now , could I ?? . .
I finished the rears last night, emergency brake cable adds a complexity to reassembly but got it. Once I swap the font shoes I will replace the brake lines and replace master and then fill and bleed. How much brake fluid will I need for an entire fill? And tips on best way to fill and bleed?
Oh Lawdy!!! Yeah you're in for a fun afternoon, and plenty of right leg exercise. Nate's stick trick works if you get tired and don't finish the first day. Be patient those lines really don't go all the way to China! Get two large bottles of fluid. Flashlight
Front shoes swapped and finished rears does it look correct Ok swapped the front shoes, easy to do second time. I also finished the rear, a lillte more complex with emergency brake lever arm and bar. I am hoping I got it right this time.
Rears complete Ok lost a post somehow. Swaped the front shoes and finished the rears. Rears a bit more complex due to emergency brake mechanisim. Hope I got it right.
A vaccume brake bleeder speeds things up, but in the end, you still need a pumper and a dumper to do it right.
Looking Good ! Actually ; I'm not accustomed to seeing brakes sans metal to metal shoes and gear oil & brake fluid puked out all over everything.... . Those linings look kinda thin for new but what the heck . They're also supposed to have a leading & trailing shoes but I like getting the longer shoes fore and aft my ownself . I don't see any Lithium grease on the adjuster ~ didja remember to lubricate it ? if not , it'll rust in place in a year or two . They used to sell self adjusting up grade kits for Bendix brakes .
