Brake drum outer spring

[Peter Cornwell]

Yesterday I did a 550 mile round trip to collect some '41 Cadillac parts from a man who was hot rodding the '41 coupe he had bought. Rear axle complete with brakes, leaf springs, rear shocks, front wishbones complete with brakes, coil springs, front shocks, anti roll bar and four wheels, all for £40 or $50 which was a bargain in any ones books. A long drive here in England but it was worth the big trip just to have the spares there if I ever need anything, like insurance. I can already see some good shock absorber link arms which last winter I bought new!
My question is, when did Cadillac start to use brake drums with the spring around the outside of the drum as the ones on these I bought are like this but my '41 convertible coupe are not?
Kind Regards
Peter
England

[Jeff Hansen]

My question is, when did Cadillac start to use brake drums with the spring around the outside of the drum ...

According to my 1942 Master Parts List, at least as far back as 1928.

Jeff

[Vince Taliano #13852]

Peter,

Check out Chris Cummings's article starting on page 10 at http://www.clcpotomacregion.org/forms/CLCPR.2006Newsletter.pdf,

Thanks.

[Peter Cornwell]

Thanks for the replies, very helpful, interesting article and magazine. Read it cover to cover.
Kind Regards
Peter
England

[Saturnin15]

What they were for? 

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

What they were for?

As the Vince's attached article explains, they eliminate
brake squeal when the petal is applied.  Nice article Vince
and thanks for the post.  I always wondered what those
springs were supposed to do!

Mike

[Roger Zimmermann]

It's strange that almost nobody here know the reason for those springs. I was fortunate enough to have still those on my 1956 de Ville when I bought it in 1982. The reason for those springs was immediately evident for me; as they were rusted, I let manufacture some sets by a spring factory from the region I'm living. I could use what I had bought for my '57 Brougham and '56 Biarritz.
By the way, a quick look at the literature (shop manual and parts list) would reveal those springs.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I thought that everyone knew that those springs were for stopping or limiting squealing brakes.

I was told that way back in the mid '60's when I began "playing" with cars.

Bruce.

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

If you take these springs off what are the tricks to getting them back on again.

[Jay Friedman]

If you take these springs off what are the tricks to getting them back on again.

Ask Art Gardner.  He developed a method to get the springs back on.  I think using a fixture of some sort.

[39LaSalleDriver]

If you take these springs off what are the tricks to getting them back on again.

That's what I'd like to know too. I've got two that I need to put on, and I've wrestled and wrestled with them until I gave up in disgust.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

You have to be very careful.   VERY careful, as there is latent tension here.

I have found the best way is to have three people involved when the drums are on the car.

One to press on the brake pedal to stop the drum from turning, then with the steering turned inwards, so that the rear of the drum you are working on is out.

Then with the spring undone, and one end of the spring held tightly to the drum, hook a length of fencing wire with a loop on one end to hold the spring end, and on the other end, a larger loop around a piece of 1" dowel (broom handle), using the dowel as a handle, pull the spring tight and have the third person using a pair of multi grips, attempt to hook the two ends together.   Then cut the wire off, as it will be sort of stuck there.

Another method is to try and roll the spring on over the drum, expanding it as you go, but use gloves, as skin is the loser against steel.   Again, have the helper still pressing on the brake pedal.

Bruce.

[Lexi]

When they turn drums did they not wrap them (or were supposed to ) with large rubber braces years ago. That was to remove harmonic chatter when turning. Can now see why these springs would also do the same (and reduce squeal) when installed on drums, to fight against distortion. Going to look at mine and take Bruce up on his suggestions for extra help. Clay/Lexi

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

The installation of the rubber strapping around the drum when machining also keeps the operation of machining quieter which is good for a quiet workshop.

Bruce.

[Lexi]

Never thought of any of this stuff until this topic came up. Very interesting. Clay/Lexi