Wedge Brakes

[branr1]

My front passenger side brake has always been weak on my 1998 M1078. I jacked up my truck Thursday night and put it on a Jackstand. I removed the front tire and quit for the evening. Friday morning we had a 7.0 earthquake I thought for sure the truck was gonna come off the stand but I got lucky and it stayed put. I found two issues with the brake, the first I found was the Wedge was broken. One of the rollers that push the shoes out had been forced out of its holder. The wedge broke because the brake shoes were mounted upside down. With the brake shoes mounted upside down the wedge couldn’t travel and was jammed up once the brakes were applied the actuator pushed on and broke the wedge. I flipped the shoes around and repaired the wedge and everything is now working as it should. It’s a huge improvement in braking performance.
If anyone is doing brake work on a FMTV and isn’t fimliar with the wedge brakes there is a great 4 part series on YouTube that directly applies to the FMTV brake system. I searched for Wedge Brakes and I found the videos.

 

[coachgeo]

My front passenger side brake has always been weak.... put it on a Jackstand. I removed the front tire and quit for the evening. Friday morning we had a 7.0 earthquake...got lucky and it stayed put.

.....
If anyone is doing brake worker on a FMTV and isn’t fimliar with the wedge brakes there is a great 5 part series on YouTube that directly applies to the FMTV brake system. I searched for Wedge Brakes and I found the videos.

for quick finding.... here ya go (if this is the same video series he is referring too cause I only see 4 vids not 5)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUVE8rRS8IA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfaIh_bdO3w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9chhwX7bU0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gphbqXs8gDI

 

[Ronmar]

Brother and family live in Wasilla, said things shook pretty good.

3 out of the 4 of my front shoes are on backwards and the passenger wedge is probaly blown like yours. Havnt had time to strip it yet to see exactly what is up in there, but it dosnt operate...

 

[branr1]

Brother and family live in Wasilla, said things shook pretty good.

3 out of the 4 of my front shoes are on backwards and the passenger wedge is probaly blown like yours. Havnt had time to strip it yet to see exactly what is up in there, but it dosnt operate...

I watched the videos and I was surprised how simple the brake shoes are to work on. The hardest part is moving the tire and wheel combo and even thats not bad. Flipping the shoes around is easy a pair of brake spring pliers like in the video are handy and I found them at Napa for $28.

 

[Ronmar]

Yea, they are easy enough to work on once you get the heavy parts moved. Since the shoes are clearly stamped as to orientation, kinda mistifies me how someone could put them on backwards...

 

[m-35tom]

Because the army worked on it.