Bigger rear brake shoes

[Shock_Me]

OK, so I'm converting my dad's 69 C-10 from 6 lug to 5 lug. I found a couple of axles from a 72, and I'm going to do the axle swap using a set of bigger brake drums from a 73-87. I also picked up the required 11 5/32" x 2 3/4" brake shoes to do this conversion.

My question is this: is there a different spring/retainer kit with longer pins, (which go through the backing plate to hold the shoes in place), for these wider shoes? The standard pins I have seem to hold the shoes way too tight to the backing plate.

Thanks

Pete

[CUSTOM/10]

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe they are longer. I also think you need the 73-87 backing plates they more of an off-set due to the wider shoes.

Gary

[woodridge]

The backing plates are different.Also, isn't there a difference in the axle housings between the 5 and 6 lug? Seems I remember some post about that.

[Jim_PA]

If you are only swapping the axles, all you need is the wider brake drums to cover the extra length of the axles. As a matter of fact, if you are putting the longer axles in the narrower rear, You won't be able to do the bigger rear brake hardware swap -- larger drums only!

[Shock_Me]

Yes the housings are different lengths. I'm using the 69 housing with the longer 72 axles.
I checked out some part numbers in the LMC catalog. There are definitely different retainer kits for different size brake shoes. I've ordered the new shoes and spring kits from NAPA today, and we'll see if it all works out before the weekend.

Thanks
Pete

[Shock_Me]

Jim,
Just read your post. I thought I read here somewhere that if I go with the bigger 73-87 drums, that I would need the bigger shoes as well. ie: 11 5/32"x 2 3/4" shoes.

[Jim_PA]

Originally Posted by Shock_Me

Jim,
Just read your post. I thought I read here somewhere that if I go with the bigger 73-87 drums, that I would need the bigger shoes as well. ie: 11 5/32"x 2 3/4" shoes.

If you are using the proper length axles, you need the bigger shoes with the bigger drums, and backing plates. If you are only using long axles, I'm not certain if you can just put the bigger shoes under there or not, but when I did mine, I don't think there would be a way, but let us know how it works out.

[Aarons72s]

When you use the longer axles in the narrower 69 older 12 bolt you use the wider 74 up brake drum but the stock 69 shoes and backing plates. The wider shoes wont fit the narrower backing plate and you cant install the the 74 up wider backing plates as then you would have a 3/4" gap between the back of the drum and the backing plate. So just use the wider drum and new axles with your existing brakes and you will be fine. Hope this helps.

[Jim_PA]

I knew there was something! Has been too long since I've done it.

[Shock_Me]

Thanks guys. I used the setup Aaron and Jim described, and it works great.