I’m currently installing all new brakes and hardware on my 48-52 f1 backing plates. I have 66 f100 self adjusting kit from raynestos. I’m having a hard time with the main red spring seating on the upper stud. Is there a trick to provide more room for the two springs and the self adjusting cable? Thanks!
Unless you don't have the retainer/washer seated all the way back or the ring on the adjuster cable seated right against it the pin may be a tad shorter than you need. I'm thinking it is a pretty tight fit on the later trucks with the self adjusters. The self adjusting Ford shoes and hardware like that probably has given me more fights than most any other brake setups. I went out and looked at my 52 F-1 backing plates and worn out shoes and I'm thinking that that front spring is heavier and as there isn't much wiggle room from the start you have run out of space.
It looks like the diameter of the 66 F100 red spring is larger. You my want to look at the earlier F1 red spring. JMO
Good call, the original spring is much smaller. I can try that, I guess at the end of the day it’s all the same just the adjuster hardware. Thanks!
Get a new retainer for a 66 f100. They are just slightly thinner. And make up the difference to let the spring seat fully. Have this exact set up on my 39. Works great.
The difference is you have added the self adjuster cable which makes the bundle thicker. I think I would try to grind the retainer thinner around the center mostly, maybe on the back side so it sets back just a bit? Or maybe what Jason said! Dave
The anchor pins come in a few varieties with different shoulder heights along with the retainers coming in several thicknesses; but I found the replacement retainers from "Help" works the best with the self-adjuster stuff. I also grind the one side where the red spring goes to the same shape as the retainers used by the factory with self-adjusting on later models otherwise it pushes the retainer up to bind on the shoe.
Ya, the anchor pin shoulder just doesn't have enough room on it for the extra thickness of the heavier spring and the adjusting hardware. If you can find a thinner retainer or grind the one you have thinner that will probably be enough. When I did my '50 Ford Custom (car)I had the anchor pins out and cut the shoulder back a bit on the lathe.
Your retainer plates are too thick. Not enough room for the adjusters. I ran into the same problem when adding self adjusters to my '54 front brakes. I remedied it by fabbing some new retainer plates out of slightly thinner metal. Worked great!
Here's a picture of a F-1 brake with the later model retainer that is shaped to work with the larger diameter self-adjuster spring. The part number for the Dorman Help retainer is 13896; it is thin and works with any of the anchor pin variations. The one ear easily ground to duplicate the shape of the later style retainer in the picture. Usually only a couple bucks at the parts store.
Better picture of the correct retainer and a "Help" piece marked with the area I usually relieve so the short spring does not end up in a bind.
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