drum brake spring HELP please....

[mustangmike6996]

so i decided to rebuild my drum brakes on my 8 inch rear end on my 69 mustang... they are the 10x1 3/4 i am having an issue with finding the long spring that connects at the top of the shoes (it has a hook on each end then the coiled spring then a long strait piece then coiled spring and another hook to connect to the other shoe) if you have had the drums apart you should know what im talking about... anyways... the issue is im missing one... cant seem to find a new one and it dosent come in the hardware kits... does anyone know where or how much these can be purchased??

also, its been about 4 years since i took these apart, so i cant seem to figure out how to get the guide attached to the secondary shoe for the cable that goes from the shoe anchor around the guide to the adjuster lock... is there a clip or fastener?? also if anyone has pics it would be awesome...


so i just looked at a pic of the drums and im pretty sure i answered both of my questions...

 

[D.Hearne]

You should be able to buy a "kit" that's got all the small parts at your local parts house. As for the cable guide, that's held in place by one of the top springs.

 

[phutch11]

I had the exact same issue trying to find that spring when I rebuilt my brakes on my 66. My advice would be to forget about finding it - none of the big parts stores (autozone, advance, oreilly, etc.) or the Mustang places will have it.

The spring is not crucial to the correct functioning of the brakes - use the old ones and replace everything else.

Good luck!

 

[D.Hearne]

I had the exact same issue trying to find that spring when I rebuilt my brakes on my 66. My advice would be to forget about finding it - none of the big parts stores (autozone, advance, oreilly, etc.) or the Mustang places will have it.

The spring is not crucial to the correct functioning of the brakes - use the old ones and replace everything else.

Good luck!

Remind me not to ride in your car. Missing brake springs ?

 

[JonK]

It's usually just as cheap to get the kit that does both sides with all new springs as it is to get a set of return springs as you'll get 4 to do all wheels or one kit that does 2 wheels.
Here's some part #'s to call your local parts stores with to see if they have in stock, I usually use O'Reilly's for this because they get them next day if they don't have them , no charge.
Return springs:
Raybestos H102
O'Reilly/Brakebest HDW132

or
2 wheel kit
Raybestos H7102

Pics of the rear brakes of my '67 289 if they help

Jon

 

[phutch11]

The long spring he is referring to is not found on the rear brakes, and thus not in the pictures you posted, on my car it is on the front drums.

I was not advocating removing the spring, rather living with the current ones found on the car. It functions in conjunction with the stronger return springs found in all rebuild kits (those shown above) and, as such, I figure it's not crucial to the operation of the brakes. If it were it would be included in the kits.