Technical Little tips and tricks for garage hobbyists.

Okay but, I've seen guys hook the shoes into the bottom adjuster, with spring,
and the return springs onto the top anchor bolt.
Then pulling the shoes apart enough to set the tops of the shoes around the anchor bolt. Now just push the hold down pin into place and connect the clip-washer onto the pin(s) one at a time.
OR go BUY YOU the tool for the job. Can't be more than a large pizza.
BTW, When I bought mine it was more than Pizza. Pizza was a buck then
The Ford later style self adj. w/cable etc gets dicey with no tool.
Still get the tool.

 

Use a cable tie (looped) in place of your screw driver, and use a pair of vice grips on the cable tie to pull the spring over to where you want it. Then once in place, cut the cable tie and pull it out.
No springs popping off ……..
Cable tie doesn’t damage the spring end as does using pliers or other tools on the spring and only stretches the spring the minimum amount required to get it in position.

Handy tip, - use safety glasses when doing it your way !
.

 

One of these has always been the easiest for me.

 

About the price of a medium pizza here.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BR1BV8Q/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Slightly different, but pretty close to what I paid for K-D brand 50 years ago. Stop chasing springs all around your shop or driveway for a half hour per corner and buy the tool. 4 seconds or less per spring and works every time.

 

I don't know where I got it and I can't find one with Google; but I've got a one-piece rod like the right leg of the one in the link above and in the pic below. It, of course, doesn't have the curves on the other end. I also have one identical to the link but like/use the one-piece one and never get the "pliers" type out of the tool drawer. Next time I'm in my shop I'll snap a pic and load it here.



EDIT: the site didn't like the pic I posted but take my word for it; it's nearly identical to the one in the link posted by Fabber McGee above.

 

Yep, I don't have the big pliers. Just a bar that has the kink on it and the round end with a tab to pop them off. No fuss. The pliers have those on the ends of the handles and cost 12 bucks on average.

 

Well, wouldn't you know it, the tool I mentioned above isn't in the tool drawer where it's supposed to be.

The first pic below is all the brake tools that I found in said drawer. Top tool is what was mentioned above and I haven't used this one in over 30 years, probably over 40. Bottom three have one or both ends that are to replace the little "washer" that goes over the spring that holds the shoe at the right distance form the backing plate. The top of these three has the indention to "hook" over the stud to reinstall the "long" spring. The top "pliers" type has a similar indention on one of the handles. These indentions are shown close-up in the other two pix. The tool that I can't find looks like the center pic on one end and I honestly don't remember what the other end looks like. The last time I used it was about 9 years ago and I don't know where I misplaced it.

 

The missing tool will be under the fridge in your shop when you move it to retrieve that last little bearing ball that just rolled under there.

 

If that's the case I'll need a dumpster to put all the stuff that's rolled under there.

 

I just clamp the straight portion of a spring in vice-grips and pull it over...

 

The right length bungie will work for a while.

 

well,pretty sure that confused me ...am i alone?

 

Nope I don’t get it yet , but I ride a Harley I’m slow

 

@patsurf I read it as using a bungie to wrap around the shoes as mentioned earlier with zip ties.

Me, I always hung the shoes with the center pegs and springs, then depending on the adjuster/spring on the bottom, did that or the 2 top pin springs next.
The wrap around the shoes is to help hold them in place for installing the 2 upper springs, I assume.

 

right from the first mention way back this has baffled me --the shoes are against the stop-are people trying to pull the tops of the shoes closer than that --(even possible?)--this is all crazy when the spring tool does everything!!

 

Use a bungie instead of the spring. You don't need tools to put it on.

 

There is another sign on the walk-out door at eye level.

 

Ratchet straps don't get tangled up when stored like this. I have about 25 of them and they are always easy to choose and use. They are stored in a milk crate so are always together.

 

@atch I do the same thing, for straps and other items. keeps them well organized.

 

Speaking of baggies; whenever I remove a bolt, nut, or other hardware and know (or even think) that I'll want to put it back on sometime in the future I put it/them in a baggie and label the baggie as to what the contents are. Then that baggie goes into a big drawer with all the other baggies containing hardware. And since I don't want to get SS or grade 8 hardware mixed up with ordinary hardware, I put those in baggies also, labeled as to what it is.

 

I put it on the light switch!

 

Just a reminder to wear appropriate safety equipment. Today I completed installing new brake calipers, hoses and hard lines on my diesel and had the wife working the pedal to bleed the brakes, a task we have all done many times. Luckily I had my safety glasses on, when I opened the bleeder it shot fluid much stronger than expected and hit me dead center in the glasses, it would have been my eye otherwise. The rest of the job I layed to the side of the stream, but that was a close call.

 

I'm not a fan of open bleeders...
I use a snug piece of hose, long enough to go into & along the inside wall of a mason jar, so's I can see the color of the brake fluid. A little more fussing/mumbling, but I also don't like big messes. Easy to pour the contents into a proper container as needed.
Marcus...

 

heck-w/ the bottle you don't need a helper!

 

I’ve used that method many times and it’s my regular go to, but went the old way this time. Future bleeding, going back to the hose in a jar. Cleaner and ultimately easier, especially on a show car, this was a DD type and was just ready to get done and couldn’t find any hose that would stay on; I had rags and cardboard to absorb the mess. Another lesson learned……

 

Yes,,,the best way!

 

I made a little stand for my container so that it does no tip over.

 

PPE is always over looked when in a hurry to finish up . I did a stupid stupid thing earlier this year and it took weeks to recover . A Friend stopped by needed a part TIG welded , I was working outside no shirt on . Took the part inside and welded it . Shirt on went to lunch . I started to notice strange feeling on my chest . Got to checking , really burnt from the UV of welding and not wearing my jacket . This act is over looked by most , protect all skin from the UV when welding : hands , top of head , arms , chest , throat , ears the more the safer . Eyes when plasma cutting , are easy to forget .
The persons we hurt the most by not using PPE is our family , and I know no one wants to hurt a family member .

 

Thoughts??