My Willys 3A and 3B Community
Rambling, Malarky, Rants, Etc. => Rambling, Malarky, Rants, Etc... => Topic started by: Carls_jeep on July 23, 2011, 08:22:47 PM
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>:( I sure would like to get my hands, I mean my fists, on the guy that designed the brake adjustment system on the early Jeeps. Every time I have to adjust them it's like a war zone with all the cussing and yelling going on. The worst part is the nuts rusting solid and requiring heat to loosen them.
You can correctly assume that I just finished adjusting them. I am also going to order new brake shoes and adjusters for a future brake job.
I wonder if the one that designed them was a kid fresh out of college that didn't have a clue and thought it was a great idea to be able to set the shoe to the drum at both ends of the shoe. Or, it may have been some quirky old fart that was particular, peculiar and weird, uhhh, like me.
I am going make some kind of wrench to hold the end of the stud while tightening the nut. There is two sizes so it's going to be a little snarky. If it works I will start selling them. I will buy a cheap box wrench to thin down so it will go on the front lower 3/4" nut.
Oh, did I mention I hate adjusting Jeep brakes?
I think I need to take a long ride in the Jeep to mollify my anger.
EDIT: it's amazing how much better the brakes work with them adjusted. When the pedal is low it takes a lot of effort to stop but when the pedal is high I get easy stopping effort.
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As we get older, our legs shrink up. Hence, we need longer pedals! Jim
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I'll take one of those wrenches when you get it designed.................I hate adjusting them too......but sure helps when they are. ;D
Josh
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No need to invent one. They've been in existence since day one. �:)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu147/lucas9619/015-7.jpg)
Larry
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OK Larry, no more secrets, where do I get one !!!!
Todd :D
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They sometimes show up on the G503 forum and sometimes on Ebay. The most popular is made by Cornwell but there are others, including Plomb. You'll need 1/4" x 3/16". You could post a "Wanted" adv on the Gee. It's called a brake adjustor wrench (big surprise there huh?). �:)
Larry
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It never ceases to amaze me at what Larry comes up with: Tools, rare parts, references, photos, service bulletins, and experience. We are lucky he is a member of the 3A Page forum.
:)
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He's like the old man of the mountain! Jim
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Yeah, I called Walcks and asked about a wrench and he said, good luck finding one. I have used a 1/4" and 3/16" end wrench to try to adjust them and because mine were rounded off a little I had poor results. My intention is to make a square wrench to fit the square end of the adjuster. An open end wrench on a rounded square stud is almost useless. If the adjuster is rounded even my wrench will not help. The abuse done over 60 or so years of adjusting the brakes is hard to over come. I had better luck using a small Vise Grip to turn the adjuster than anything else. Even a square drive may not help some with abused adjusters. Their only help is replacement of the adjusters are is mine.
When adjusting the brakes there is a real world situation and a hypothetical situation. The real world is the adjusters are buggered and the hypothetical is the adjusters are like new.
By the way, the photo of the wrench has disappeared. Rocketeer, did you delete it from your web photo site?
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You might have some band width problems Carl, I just paged up and the photo is still there.
Todd
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Well, I just got back on the site and the photo is back. Miracles never cease.
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When you can find them they usually aren't cheap. Here are two listings on the Gee. Looks like maybe they are still available if you want to spend the money.
http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=183780&p=1066053&hilit=brake+wrench#p1066053
http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=183642&p=1065374&hilit=brake+wrench#p1065374
and one on Ebay but it doesn't list the size. You could ask the seller.
http://cgi.ebay.com/FORD-WILLYS-JEEP-BLUE-POINT-WRENCH-BRAKE-ADJUSTING-TOOL-/380357743779?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588f1694a3
Larry