Front drum brakes

[Fordguy85]

ok guys so Im having issues here

I just redid my rear brakes, no problem , no moving onto the front brakes, my brakes feel spongy and when i tore the front end drums apart i found out the automatic adjustors weren't hooked up correctly.


Ok so here is my problem it is supposedly a 72 F250, However the vin on the chassis reads its an F100, the rear end i know for a fact to be a 3/4 ton axle off a 250 so were set and figured out there

the front end has 8 lug drums on it , which to my knowledge (correct me if I'm wrong) was only on the 250's but when i tore the drums down the springs and what not inside matches what SHOULD BE in an f100,

Further researching this i have several diagram that show the front brakes on a 250 should be identical to the rear brakes (springs and adjustors) minus the emergency brake

but apparently according to O'reily auto parts, there are 2 different hardware kits for the front drum brakes for an f250

I would post a picture but i can't figure out how to minimize the damn pics on my wife's damn Mac UGH frustration !!!

any way if any one has any idea the reason why I'm thinking its an f100 brake setup is because the hardware kit comes with 3 springs the two that go from the shoes to the top center pin and the one for the adjustment , where the F250 kit only comes with 2 ( plus the retainer springs) which are the two that go from the shoes to the center pin, and i looked at the adjustment lever rebuild kits too and they don't come with springs, soooooo yeah Im at a loss

[Fordguy85]

Forgot to mention it is 2 wheel drive

[sargentrs]

Here's the tech drawings on an F-250 two wheel drive with drum brakes front and rear. http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... akes01.jpg From the looks of it, it should be virtually identical with the exception of the parking brake assembly on the rear and not on the front.

[Fordguy85]

yeah I've already looked at that, and from what I have seen there were 2 different front end options(when it comes to brakes) on the F250, that diagram shows the 12x2.5 brakes which have identical springs as the rear, but there was also a 12x2 which has different springs, but it looks like it has f100 springs on it, I guess what I'm trying to figure out is what is actually supposed to be on it because what i have been finding out the PO was an idiot who hadn't a clue about old trucks, the rear brake assemblies weren't put together right at all, and the driver front has different springs compared to the passenger front ,

Im trying to figure out which spring kit i should be using, the f100 kit looks like it will be the best fit, however Im worried that for some reason since its the 8 lug drums and what not that the springs won't be strong enough to actuate the brakes if it is in fact supposed to be f250 springs

[guhfluh]

The image he posted is for 12-1/8 x 2" brakes as well it shows.

Upload your pictures to photobucket.com and then post the links here if the pics are still to big after uploading.

Measure your drum ID, the width of friction surface in the drum, width of shoes and diameter of backing plate as well, just to make sure they all match. That's all I can really help with other than comparing all the pictures of backing plates and spindles you can find to what you have.

[Fordguy85]

hardware kit for the 12x2
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0064

hardware kit for 12x2.5 and 12x3
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0064

hardware kit for an f100 ( looks to me the most like the springs that are on it )
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... rdware+kit

that diagram doesnt even show the first hardware kit that claims to fit on a f250

[Fordguy85]

http://s852.photobucket.com/user/coolon ... 3.jpg.html

that is what the inside of the front passenger side looked like, the driver side didn't have the purple spring across the bottom, the two springs on top, (if its an f100 kit) one should be shorter than the other, with what the driver and passenger side looked like, it looked like the PO had left over hardware kits and just threw in springs that would fit, the diameter of the back plate is much larger than an f100 I think here is an f100 i found on here

http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... p?p=609454

[guhfluh]

Don't think. Measure.

[Fordguy85]

measuring isn't going to do anything , i already know what size they are, measuring isn't going to tell me what springs belong on it

the diameter of the drums and black pates match identical to brand new drums and back plates for an f250, however looking at it, i haven't the slightest idea where the placement of the springs go

[guhfluh]

If you know what size they are, they match F250 brakes, and you were given the proper schematic, what's the issue?

What size brakes do you have?

It looks to me like the PO put incorrect shoes and hardware on to me.

[Fordguy85]

wow thanks for stating the obvious there buddy !! yes I know that, the Problem is now what and where the actual spring placement is, THE SKEMATICS ONLY SHOW ONE TYPE OF BRAKE FOR THE 250 !!!! THERE ARE TWO HARDWARE KITS IT ONLY SHOWS ONE !!!!

[Fordguy85]

hardware kit for the 12x2
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0064

hardware kit for 12x2.5 and 12x3
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0064

that diagram doesnt even show the first hardware kit that claims to fit on a f250

the schematics do not show the first hardware kit, don't know what the spring placement would be, or the proper way to rebuild the automatic adjustor because there is no spring for it, nor does one come with the kit

[guhfluh]

wow thanks for stating the obvious there buddy !! yes I know that, the Problem is now what and where the actual spring placement is, THE SKEMATICS ONLY SHOW ONE TYPE OF BRAKE FOR THE 250 !!!! THERE ARE TWO HARDWARE KITS IT ONLY SHOWS ONE !!!!

Let's see...The actual Ford schematics don't agree with Oreillys?!?! OMG!!!!What to dooooo?!?!? I was assuming you had an IQ... Still didn't answer the question; I'm done trying. Someone else can waste their time now.

[sargentrs]

OK, I've been to o'reillys, advance auto, autozone n rockauto n here's my conclusion. The key is the size/width of the drum/shoe. 11ish x 2" or narrower should use the kit with the straight pins, 12x2-1/2 uses the kit with the curved pins. Slack adjusters and cables are purchased separately. Stick a tape on ur drum n check the inside diameter and depth and get the corresponding kit.

[guhfluh]

OK, I've been to o'reillys, advance auto, autozone n rockauto n here's my conclusion. The key is the size/width of the drum/shoe. 11ish x 2" or narrower should use the kit with the straight pins, 12x2-1/2 uses the kit with the curved pins. Slack adjusters and cables are purchased separately. Stick a tape on ur drum n check the inside diameter and depth and get the corresponding kit.

Wait, you're saying he actually has to measure what he has?!?! That's absurd!!!

Seems like I've heard that somewhere before...

Strange thing is I'm going to the store to pick up an adjuster kit and hardware for mine this morning, because I actually measured what I have...