Front Brake minor adj. Bolt

[eric wissing]

I noticed that the car was still sluggish so I jacked it up and my left front tire wouldn't spin freely. It would go about half the way around and then drag. I tried moving the minor adjusting bolt but it wouldn't budge. I gave it a little more force and it broke off!! I wasn't pushing that hard. I suspect that someone before had over done it. What next? How do I remove the backing plate? I pull the drum and is there just a few bolts that hold the whole braake assembly on? I was looking through the shop manual and it wasn't clear to me. Thanks, Eric

[55 Fargo]

Eric, did you spray the back of the adjuster with any lubricant, ah never mind it's broke off and you need to fix it. Remove front brake shoes, disconnect brake hose, if you plan on removing backing plate, if not, see f you can weld the minor adjuster back onto the adjuster bolt, make sure it's free and able to spin, to avoid breaking it again. If you remove the backingplate, you can either get another complete backing plate, or you can weld/repair the minor adjuster on the bench. We must be related as I did the same thing with one of mine,and we seem to have the same good luck with our cars, I did repair mine by drilling and tapping the minor adjuster bolt, then used a bolt through the adjuster from the front of the backing plate, but I should have just welded it. Will post a pic of the fab job on the adjuster next.......Fred

[Young Ed]

Eric you said you come through the twin cities right? I'm sure I can scare up a backing plate for you.

[55 Fargo]

Here is a pic of my custom made minor brake adjuster.....Fred

[eric wissing]

Fred and Ed (hey a pair) Fred, I didn't spray!! The front shoe adjustment was easy and the back shoe was ,well easy to brake off. Someone before must have really been torqueing it. I will pull it off tomorrow to see what I have.

Ed, I don't regularly come through but from time to time. I might take you up on the backing plate. I will the tire and hub off and see what the heck I come up with. I am half tempted to go to front discs. Never done anything like that before but the brakes have given me a lot of trouble. It has been addressed a lot of times here but I think if I go to discs up front I have to go to different wheels, I like my tires and if I cahnge I would have to shell out a lot more. Thanks, Should be interesting!! Eric

[james curl]

Charlie's kit allows you to use your original wheels. I just installed mine last month and am very pleased. If you should go with Charlie's kit(Old Daddy on the fourm) use his service to drill and tap your spindles and steering arms otherwise you will have to find a machine shop with a very slow turning drill press (100-200 RPM) or a bridgeport milling machine.

[John Mulders]

Eric,

I converted to disc brakes (Charlies) and did this myself.

Only had a friend helping with tapping the holes for the plate (manually).

Used the same rims etc.

Altough it took some time to finish it (because I could not free up time) the actual work was relatively easy.

No problems with the brakes anymore!

John

[eric wissing]

James and John, Thanks. That makes a big difference keeping the same wheels and tires. I like the stock look on mine let alone the cost. The fatter tires and more modern wheels look better on the coupes (just my personal preference) unless you have a racer like Don's or Blue skies. Eric

[eric wissing]

I was looking at the shop manual, removing the spindles looks like a sort of difficult job requiring some special tools. No wonder this issue has been hashed out on the forum so many times Eric