M35 hand-brake mod

[Maverick1701]

I made it 1072.992 out of 1073 miles w/out any problems w/the new truck....I guess thats life huh?
I actually laughed, I just got done saying "wow I made it the whole trip w/out any issues...AWESOME!"

I parked my truck outside of my house (w/the hand-brake on) while I moved my Sheriff truck out of my driveway. I jumped right back into my truck to pull it into the driveway, pulled forward and put x-fer case in low (as I wanted to back up very slow). I put it in reverse and heard a LOUD POP....CRAP!

Looked under the truck and the hand-brake was hanging by one long spring sad day. I found a few parts on the street. The bolt that holds the top of the brake snapped as well as the small spring....and I couldnt find some other missing parts but it was in tall grass.

Here are some pics. Im going to call saturn, or boyce w/the NSNs of the parts i need to reinstall.
After looking through the TM and looking under the truck, it looks like a simple bolt on job (once I get new bolts/springs)

 

[markmontana]

That threaded rod is part of the cable- so you'll need to get another cable.

We'll both be shopping for one- I just pulled a frozen cable yesterday. Can't get to it for a couple weeks, so be sure and post what you do so I can read up later. Thanks

 

[gimpyrobb]

The cable swap is a pita. The bolts under the cab are not fun and neither is the metal gromet thingy where it goes through the frame. Mentally prepare yourself and it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[AceHigh]

Gimpy has it right! Just did one and it took a lot longer than it should have. It seems so simple to look at it, just does not go together like it looks.

The cable is a PITA where it goes into the cab, the adjustment is not too much fun. I kind of designed a long extension to my battery torque wrench to speed the adjustment nut on the brake end so I could do it standing next to the fuel tank.

 

[two.fiveM35]

I have been fighting that spring for a while. The replacement springs are a smaller diameter spring than the one that came off the truck. The spring I got from Saturn was 1/4 shorter then the one I ordered from Memphis. I would order at least 2, in case you mess the spring up like i did. The one from Memphis is next to impossible to get thru the hole on the top of the shoe. Which spring will work better? Sorry can't answer that yet, stiil working on mine.

When I reassemble mine i would connect the brake cable to that arm first, while everything is loose and easier to get to and reassemble the rest of the parking brake assembly after.

Good luck

 

[Maverick1701]

dang...this sounds like a pain

Thanks for the tips yall.

 

[RAYZER]

on the big spring that goes on top that hooks around the bolt then hooks through the little hole on the top shoe; adjust bolt down, then hook spring around the bolt,then hook spring through top shoe, then adjust bolt back up. this will make life easyer.

 

[wbdodgeiv]

I also fight a frozen cable assy. I relined my shoes with some clutch lining from mcmaster, but the spring isn't strong enough to fully release the brake if you don't push it fully to the floor and the shoes drug and glazed. I am tossing around the idea modifying it so that it would be spring applied air released and ditching the hand lever all together

 

[Barrman]

Pull the spare tire to swap out the cable. It makes the job a lot easier. At least it did for me.

 

[two.fiveM35]

I have been fighting that spring for a while. The replacement springs are a smaller diameter spring than the one that came off the truck. The spring I got from Saturn was 1/4 shorter then the one I ordered from Memphis. I would order at least 2, in case you mess the spring up like i did. The one from Memphis is next to impossible to get thru the hole on the top of the shoe. Which spring will work better? Sorry can't answer that yet, stiil working on mine.

When I reassemble mine i would connect the brake cable to that arm first, while everything is loose and easier to get to and reassemble the rest of the parking brake assembly after.

Good luck

Oh, one more thing. If you take the spare tire off it is alot easier working under there.