rear drums on a 63

[raphyel]

63 drum brakes. ANyone have a picture of a drum brake setup for a 63 rear? I think the drum brakes on a 63 were slightly different from 64. I looked at LMCs diagram for a rear drum setup and certain parts are for 64-66 only. does a 63 half ton have the circled part?

[qksilver]

an equalizer bar and I don't know. It looks like you are missing a few parts in that picture.
Nice paint job though

[raphyel]

Thats not mine.That is a picture I found on the internet as a reference, But that truck is not a 63

[raphyel]

I got the rear drums redone, they are extremely tight. I had to sand them several times to make them fit. Is that normal. The adjusting screw is in all the way also.

[Fred T]

No, it's not normal. When I was doing brake jobs, we would turn the drums and grind the shoes to match. Never had one where the shoes were too big, just out of round. And building shoes has improved a lot in the last 30 years.

I would assume you have either the park brake equalizer or the adjuster in wrong. For one thing, the equalizer in your picture is in upside down. Usually, if the shoes hit the drum at the top, it's the equalizer, at the bottom it's the adjuster. If the shoes are too big all around equally, then it's the wrong shoes or drum.

Here's a page showing how things fit together on a 55. http://chevy.tocmp.com/1955truck2shop/55ctsm0514.htm The pieces might be a little different than yours, but Bendix brakes didn't change much through the years.

[Chevyman680063]

I have a 63 and yes they have the parking brake equalizer that you have circled. What looks to be missing is the adjusting screw and spring at the bottom. It looks like that setup has a self-adjuster and from what I've read about this year truck is that they did not have the self-adjusters on the brakes, that came on later 60s models.

[raphyel]

The pic is just a pic I found online. My truck does not have self adjusters. I bought new 5 lug axles and got 72 chevy truck drums to go with them They fit great. The shoes are for a 63 and the adjuster screw is for a 72 as I could not find them for a 63. I will probably go and grind down the slot ab out 1/8" on each end of the adjusters which should make the shoes fit. When I say the shoes are too big, I mean like maybe a millimeter not verymuch. I only had to sand the ends of the shoes, but they are hard to turn as they foit so tight. I think putting a quarter inch 1/8*2 in the adjuster should give me the space I need. Does anyone know the width of the rear brake drums on a 63, 2" or 2.75"?

[Chevyman680063]

You can get an adjuster screw for a 63 from Classic Parts. I had to order some for mine because the old ones were locked up. Here's a link.
http://www.classicparts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=71-611

[raphyel]

Well I tried using my grinder and deepening the notches and found that 1/16 or so on each end was a perfect fit, so I think I will just go with adjusters I have because of that.

[Fred T]

I believe the stock shoe was 2", heavy duty was 2.75. Sounds like you fixed your problem. Important thing is that it goes straight when you stop.

[ChiefRocka]

Just to add something...I just did the brakes on my 63. The rear brake have self adjusters...but the front brakes do not. Is that how they come stock ?? Just curious. I could of just bought a self adjuster kit and add it to it, but the drums will be changed out for disc...as soon as I figure the cheapest way out...

John

[raphyel]

I dont think they came from factory with self adjusting brakes, But the kit for a 64-66 will go on a 63 and maybe the previous owner did that. Mine had no self adjusters or anything special. Well they are self adjusting. I adjust them myself *L*