Emergency Brake Spring

[Quadromaniac]

Anyone ever replace the spring on the emergency brake inside the brake drum. Mine is half rusted off and causing the brake shoes to be to tight.

[Fid]

Not sure what you're referring to by emergency brake spring. Inside the rear drum there are two springs: one short one on the bottom which straps the shoes together and one larger/longer one on top which is the shoe return spring. Both are fairly easy to replace but finding a replacement first might be a challenge.  To remove the top one, I first remove the "bar" that goes from the hand brake lever mounted on the rear most shoe to the other shoe. Then I use a side cutter to grip the spring, stretch it and unhook it.  You don't need to disconnect the hand brake cable (not an easy job).
Let me know if this helps.

[Henry's HenryJs]

Have you looked at a new cable? Is Quad not talking about the e-spring on the cable. From my experience you have to change the cable as it is captured on the cable. You can buy a cable and cut off the spring from both cables but you will have to make a new swedge plug to clamp onto the cable. I shortened a cable on my 57 Chev and made a new swedge and used a blunt chisel to peen it onto the cable.   

[Quadromaniac]

Henry, your correct, that is the spring I am talking about. I guess it might be a new cable for this one. thanks for the information.

[Fid]

Interesting. I have not run into that issue yet.  I have removed my front parking brake cable and soaked it in oil for a few weeks to loosen it up and that's worked well. Sounds like your issue is with the rear cable. Let us know if you find / learn any new information.

[Quadromaniac]

This is the spring I am talking about.

[Quadromaniac]

Spring on the end of the E Brake cable.

[Fid]

Thanks for posting that Quadromaniac. I have never had any problems with those springs.

[Quadromaniac]

This is what the spring looked like after I removed and NO I did not break it up like this. It came off this way.

[Quadromaniac]

I used one from a 1960 Chevy Truck. I had to cut the cable to get it on, but it works. I had to splice the cable with wire rope clips that I got at ACE Hardware.