Rear brake cable connection in drum - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

data89 · 01-10-2025, 04:54 PM

I've installed the rear brake cables. Question is in the drum there is no brake lever or strut to attach the spring part of the cable to. I am assuming the previous owner removed them, or is there a different way to connect? '69 Chevy pickup. Aren't the drum brakes all the same on '67-'70? Apparently the previous owner just cut the cables and remove the strut and brake lever???

**Jason Banks** · 01-10-2025, 05:49 PM

That's probably exactly what happened. Or it rusted to dust....

Have you seen this page:
https://www.pbase.com/nufsed/drumbrake

**jayoldschool** · 01-10-2025, 08:19 PM

I don't know why this was common. It was the same on my 65. Cables cut at the backing plates, and missing the park brake hardware inside. Those parts aren't repopped, so I had to get used ones. Luckily the 67-up stuff fits. Added the cables, and the under dash handle, and presto, parking brake. I can understand disconnecting, but why cut and trash all the hardware?

**Rust_never_sleeps** · 01-11-2025, 04:56 PM

Company truck? ;-) I've worked with guys that would have done crap like that

**jayoldschool** · 01-11-2025, 05:27 PM

Maybe. Mine did have a Mico hydraulic parking brake plumbed in at some point. Still has the handle on the dash, and the old line stubs sticking out of the firewall.

**Rust_never_sleeps** · 01-11-2025, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayoldschool

Maybe. Mine did have a Mico hydraulic parking brake plumbed in at some point. Still has the handle on the dash, and the old line stubs sticking out of the firewall.

Ah, so maybe tied into a PTO or similar

Kalums · Yesterday, 10:22 AM

[quote=data89 [I've installed the rear brake cables. Question is in the drum there is no brake lever or strut to attach the spring part of the cable to. I am assuming the previous owner removed them, or is there a different way to connect? '69 Chevy pickup. Aren't the drum brakes all the same on '67-'70? Apparently the previous owner just cut the cables and remove the strut and brake lever??? /quote]

So in my 71 with 13" drums these were the Parking Brake lever part numbers("arm" internal): GM 15594177 & 15594178 (Good luck finding "78" it is discontinued) and the strut (also known as a spreader bar) going from the lever to the front shoe is a mystery kinda I found these parts catalog pictures but the part numbers didn't really cross reference. Best source for those would be a salvage yard probably, make sure they match whatever size shoe you are using. I understand they are different lengths with different throat/channel depths. Sorry for the crappy screenshots it's all I've got/ could find.

01-10-2025, 04:54 PM	#1
data89 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Watertown, WI Posts: 77	Rear brake cable connection in drum I've installed the rear brake cables. Question is in the drum there is no brake lever or strut to attach the spring part of the cable to. I am assuming the previous owner removed them, or is there a different way to connect? '69 Chevy pickup. Aren't the drum brakes all the same on '67-'70? Apparently the previous owner just cut the cables and remove the strut and brake lever???

01-10-2025, 05:49 PM	#2
Jason Banks Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: TX Posts: 1,628	Re: Rear brake cable connection in drum That's probably exactly what happened. Or it rusted to dust.... Have you seen this page: https://www.pbase.com/nufsed/drumbrake

01-10-2025, 08:19 PM	#3
jayoldschool Moderator Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: ON, Canada Posts: 2,181	Re: Rear brake cable connection in drum I don't know why this was common. It was the same on my 65. Cables cut at the backing plates, and missing the park brake hardware inside. Those parts aren't repopped, so I had to get used ones. Luckily the 67-up stuff fits. Added the cables, and the under dash handle, and presto, parking brake. I can understand disconnecting, but why cut and trash all the hardware?

01-11-2025, 04:56 PM	#4
Rust_never_sleeps Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: San Ramon,CA Posts: 628	Re: Rear brake cable connection in drum Company truck? ;-) I've worked with guys that would have done crap like that __________________ 1970 C10 Custom longbed 350/350 Code: __ ______\|__]\____ ....\|___(o)_____(o)_]

01-11-2025, 05:27 PM	#5
jayoldschool Moderator Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: ON, Canada Posts: 2,181	Re: Rear brake cable connection in drum Maybe. Mine did have a Mico hydraulic parking brake plumbed in at some point. Still has the handle on the dash, and the old line stubs sticking out of the firewall.

Yesterday, 10:22 AM	#7
Kalums Registered User Join Date: Jun 2024 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 135	Re: Rear brake cable connection in drum [quote=data89 [I've installed the rear brake cables. Question is in the drum there is no brake lever or strut to attach the spring part of the cable to. I am assuming the previous owner removed them, or is there a different way to connect? '69 Chevy pickup. Aren't the drum brakes all the same on '67-'70? Apparently the previous owner just cut the cables and remove the strut and brake lever??? /quote] So in my 71 with 13" drums these were the Parking Brake lever part numbers("arm" internal): GM 15594177 & 15594178 (Good luck finding "78" it is discontinued) and the strut (also known as a spreader bar) going from the lever to the front shoe is a mystery kinda I found these parts catalog pictures but the part numbers didn't really cross reference. Best source for those would be a salvage yard probably, make sure they match whatever size shoe you are using. I understand they are different lengths with different throat/channel depths. Sorry for the crappy screenshots it's all I've got/ could find. Attached Images Last edited by Kalums; Yesterday at 10:28 AM.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.