Hot Rods Drum brake tools

I was browsing through the Harry Epstein Tool website and noticed they have some drum brake tools for sale, for pretty reasonable prices. US made, too. https://www.harryepstein.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=wilde+brake+tool I figure there's a high percentage of people here who still have cars with drum brakes.

If you haven't heard of Harry Epstein before, they're an old fashioned hardware store in Kansas City that specializes in old surplus tools of all kinds. Their website is well worth browsing, or visit the store in person if you're in the area. It's a fascinating place.

 

I've got multiples of all of those.

Here's a story. Working in a parts house, helping a guy with brake shoes. He asked how much brake spring pliers cost and I showed him a pair for about $10. He says "too much" pays for his parts and leaves. A couple of days later, he brings the shoe cores back and has about a dozen stitches in his upper lip. I asked what happened and he admits that the vise grips slipped off a spring and he busted himself in the mouth. He traded the shoe cores for a set of brake spring pliers....

 

Thanks for the post/link. Sounds like my kind of store, would love to visit one day.

 

Might be worth a stop to "stretch my legs" during one of my transporting trips through that area! I'll bet I can find something I cannot live without!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

The Harry Epstein company is absolutely incredible. Guys like us could spend entire days there and millions of dollars. Neat place and fantastic people!

 

I've got some like those that they show that I picked up along the way and never use them. My go to brake spring pliers are still the Snap-On set that was one of the very first things I bought off the Snap-On Truck when I was in trade school an 5 bucks a week was a hell of a lot of money. That's the 31A that has the separate ho0k and has the bend a ways from the end that is absolute gold for putting springs back on.
The other one is a Craftsman that I think came in a box of tools that I bought at an auction.

 

Thanks for the link. Some good stuff there and great prices too.

 

That's a heck of a candy store!

 

I have really only 2 brake tools I have used in the last 45 years. A pair of Sears Bendix pliers and a Lisle hold down removal tool. And a few bleeder wrenches. With the pliers, I only used the pliers-end on some F350 Ford rear shoes.

 

These are the type of brake tools I have been using since I was a teenager. HRP

 

^^^ Me too--same ones

 

I forgot the brake spoon... a Craftsman bought in 1974.