When assembling your Bugeye’s rear drum brakes, one thing you may not realize you need to pay attention to is the orientation of the return springs for the brake shoes. In the video above and the photo below, you can see what can happen when a brake spring is oriented incorrectly.
Bugeyes and Spridgets utilize drum brakes on the rear axle for stopping. These drum brakes use springs what help return the shoes away from the drums when the brake pedal isn’t being pressed. These have a specific orientation to them in order to avoid contact with other components in the area. The car on which the hub pictured here was installed had one of the main return springs oriented upside down. This caused it to foul on the hub.
Brake springs are made of a hardened steel. This hardened steel is a harder material than the cast iron in the wheel hub. This means when the two components grind against each other for extended periods of time, the harder of the two parts (the spring) machines a groove in the softer part (the hub). If this had been left like this for much longer, it could have ground even more material away, weakening the hub and creating a potential failure point. The spring, though hardened, also suffered damage during the exchange, and a failed brake return spring can mean your brakes no longer working properly.
Next time you have your wheels off, pop off the brake drums and make sure you have everything installed properly, like in the photos above. Also, make sure you have your steady springs installed and intact (if you have early rear brakes, late rear brakes don’t use steady springs) and make sure your axle seals aren’t leaking gear oil into your drums!
We have a complete line of rear brake components, no matter which type of drum brakes you have! Click on the photos below for some of the parts we have available, or click here for our complete catalog!
