1953 3B brake question

EDIT Title: '54 3B

I've been doing some work on my Dad's 3B and the brakes are giving me issues. It has new shoes and wheel cylinders. Now, with the new shoes, the brakes drag. The little cam adjuster doo hickey is all but gone and any chance of adjusting it is as well. Also, the backing plates are in sad shape as well. There's some rust holes in them and they're generally thin all around. So, where in the world can one find new (or good used) backing plates and cam adjuster. Thanks for any answers. BTW, my only other alternative is to turn the drum out until the shoes don't drag.

 

https://www.walcks4wd.com/product.aspx?pid=2424 here's one place that I would recomend. Kragemotorsports, Turner4wd is another all east of the mighty mississippy

 

If you want to keep the 9" brakes, I'd suggest you post in the "want to buy" section of the classifieds here. The 9" brakes are not very effective by modern standards, and many owners choose to replace them with 11" drum brakes. There should be plenty of parts out there at reasonable prices.

 

I agree they're not very effective by today's standards, but in a jeep that rarely gets driven and never sees over 40mph, they actually don't work that bad, when they're working properly. I've considered the 11 inch upgrade, but for some reason, I don't see complete CJ5 parts being terribly available to me. I may have to go to the wanted to buy to get some decent backing plates since they don't seem to be growing on trees.R) I'll probably "try" to get the cam eccentrics out and see if there's enough meat on the backing plates to put new ones in.

 

You might also try R&P at 503-557-8911. They had bins full of that stuff used but not sure if they still do. With the cost of scrap way up and very little call for that stuff they have been sending a lot of that kind of stuff to the scrap yard.... R&P is also a source for brake kits, 11" drum as well as disc conversions.

 

The conversion parts don't have to be new, just in good shape. I bought 4 drums off a DJ at the junkyard for $5 each. Everything that was left looked just like the parts on my CJ. The drums were better than what I have running and will go on next brake job. Wheel cylinders can be rebuildt or replaced fairly cheap too. And these brakes are self adjusting. I wouldn.t think backing plate and springs would be much either.

 

That would be great! I figure I could at least reinforce the hole for the eccentric. It wouldn't be the first time I've touched the welder to this jeep.

I'm going to keep all options open as far as upgrades go. We have a decent Pull A Part here in Charlotte, but old Jeeps are something that doesn't usually end up there. Sometimes they get in some old waggys, but the wheel bolt pattern keeps these from working. I'll also keep an eye out for old broncos.


Of course, for the immediate future, I suppose I can keep turning the drums out util they don't drag anymore. THe eccentrics were obviously set for shoes with much less material on them. The old shoes we took off were only about half worn, but they were falling apart. That's the reason for changing them in the first place.

 

THanks, I'll keep this option in mind as well.

 

Pre-73 Jeep wagons with 5-lugs are suitable donors for 11" brakes. Later 6-lug won't work, as you noted. IIRC F-100 Ford trucks are another good donor, with some minor machining of the backing plates (backing plate big hole diameter? backing plate bolt pattern? not sure). Older Mercury cars are another donor that was popular in the day.

 

Duh, I have two 9" backing plates on a spare axle that I've been keeping for parts. Yours for cost of shipping-$9 USPS flat rate box. I just have to bolt them later this weekend.

 

If they're solid, I'll take them! You have PM!

 

BTW, here's a pic of the old girl.

BTW, the "eyebrows" were just electrical tape that I put on to be funny.

 

Woops, sorry Vanguard. I missed you post in all the replys I got on this thread. You guys sure are pretty willing to help. Sure, I'd be more than happy to relieve you of those adjusters. If you don't have them, they at least, can actually be had new unlike the backing plates.

 

Nice pic! Got your pm, where did you take that pic? Tellico?

 

It as taken at Uwharrie National Forest. We haven't managed to get the old jeep to Tellico yet.