Midwestmopar Posted July 27, 2020 Report Posted July 27, 2020 Car: 53 Plymouth Cranbrook Rear axle: pre64 8 3/4? (No numbers stamped on the left side of snout) Problem: left brake will self adjust tighter and tighter til it drags alot. So far ive determined its not a stock axle or atleast brake hardware and shoes because it doesnt have the cams to adjust the brakes. I'm assuming its pre64 cause I'm still using hub/drum rears. I have yet to measure the pinion diameter but the measurements ive taken from backing plate to backing plate are right around 52 1/2inches and the center of the leaf springs are 41 1/2 inches. The only numbers I could find on the housing are in the picture. My drums are 10 inch and my shoes are about 2 1/2 wide. Can anyone help me with ideas on what could cause my left to lock up? Also what parts should I buy to replace whats on it. Ive pretty much only checked to make aure my adjuster was on the correct side which it is. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 27, 2020 Report Posted July 27, 2020 not that its a big deal but the brake keeper at the top pin should be positioned correct for the arch of the shoes and displacement as designed...the self adjuster cable is off the track...the one shoe is locking because the other side may not be functioning....you should be able to check that casting number online. Quote
Midwestmopar Posted July 27, 2020 Author Report Posted July 27, 2020 good eye on the cable, I must have missed the guide when I put it back on after taking the adjuster out and making sure there was an L stamped on it. is the front shoe on backwards? as I was looking at the shoes I seen it has those 3 spots to ride on the backing plate. I haven't pulled the shoes off to check if all 4 shoes have it. from my pictures I snapped of the right side looks like it has a shoe with the 3 high spots facing outward also. . . . . maybe the front shoe is swapped on the wrong side? Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted July 27, 2020 Report Posted July 27, 2020 Looks like someone swapped on complete later style (60's MoPar) backing plates probably off a Plymouth or small Dodge. The picture appears to be the drivers side so yes the E-brake cable goes to the rear...the longer shoe lining also to the rear. Also the top pivot pin as PA mentioned is on upside down plus the cable off the pivot.. The differential carrier case # 1141543/44 appears to be a 1936-50 all 6 cylinder cars ...Ply/Dodge/DeSoto and Chrysler. 1951-53 Plymouth's use carrier case # 1327816 Also the rear axle in your car probably has 10 spline axle shafts (which were used in all MoPar car models up to1952) unless someone has swapped 53 side gears into the rear end. As built new.... all 1953 Plymouth's used 16 spline axle shafts. 2 Quote
DJ194950 Posted July 27, 2020 Report Posted July 27, 2020 (edited) Is there not also a missing steel cross ( about 6-8" long) bar that holds a spring wrapped around the cross bar against the front shoe? It rides between the front and rear shoes in the notches of the shoes Below the brake cylinder pins? Something like this pic.? DJ Edited July 27, 2020 by DJ194950 Add Q. Is this front brakes only? 1 Quote
Sniper Posted July 28, 2020 Report Posted July 28, 2020 This pic is out of my 67 FSM, note they are listed as front brakes, The rears have the strut DJ mentioned. Yours look to be redrilled a bit to fit. I know I mocked up a set of 80'sw M body rear backing plates to my 51, the bolt pattern didn't match and I never thought to redrill. 1 Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted July 28, 2020 Report Posted July 28, 2020 On MoPars with the trans E-brake no strut rod and cable /lever is used on rear brakes. Not needed. Quote
Midwestmopar Posted July 28, 2020 Author Report Posted July 28, 2020 16 hours ago, Dodgeb4ya said: Looks like someone swapped on complete later style (60's MoPar) backing plates probably off a Plymouth or small Dodge. The picture appears to be the drivers side so yes the E-brake cable goes to the rear...the longer shoe lining also to the rear. Also the top pivot pin as PA mentioned is on upside down plus the cable off the pivot.. The differential carrier case # 1141543/44 appears to be a 1936-50 all 6 cylinder cars ...Ply/Dodge/DeSoto and Chrysler. 1951-53 Plymouth's use carrier case # 1327816 Also the rear axle in your car probably has 10 spline axle shafts (which were used in all MoPar car models up to1952) unless someone has swapped 53 side gears into the rear end. As built new.... all 1953 Plymouth's used 16 spline axle shafts. so what you're saying is the case number shows an earlier model axle and a later model brake system . . . . .this should be fun haha. thank you for your help, what was your source for the case numbers? I spent a lot of time googling but it did me no good. Sniper that picture helps a lot, previous to this car my oldest car was a 78 so my knowledge (cut off years) on when they stopped doing certain stuff is limited. I'll take your info and to research some new hardware and shoes. hopefully my drums can be turned. dj thanks for your picture too. now to use all this info and narrow down my parts list. Quote
Midwestmopar Posted July 28, 2020 Author Report Posted July 28, 2020 P.S. I pulled a part number off of the wheel cylinder last night and narrowed that compatibility from 65-89 Quote
Loren Posted July 28, 2020 Report Posted July 28, 2020 My guess It's like automotive archeology. Self adjusters on Bendix style brakes came around 1963? The last manufacturer to switch to flanged axles had to be AMC (if they ever did). So my guess is the axle came from some Rambler from the mid to late 1960s. Quote
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