I had worn brake shoes - top. I got new ones that are a little different from the old ones where the spring attaches - bottom.



Is there a retainer available for this kind of thing? Do you make your own? Assuming it would be round, how would you know the right diameter?

Looks to me like you have swapped a primary shoe for a secondary. If you dont know the difference (anticipating your next question) then you need a FSM or professional help

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Yeah. I think you might have put the secondary shoe on the front. When you buy a set of new shoes there will eb one with a longer pad and one with a shorter pad. The shorter pad goes in the back (I think). Double check to make sure.

Primary (short) shoe goes on the front. Secondary shoe (long) goes on the rear. First, what kind of vehicle are we working on? Front or rear brakes? From what I can see in the pictures, it looks like front brakes, but the new shoe looks like a rear shoe. The slot the spring is in, looks like the slot that the park brake lever goes in.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

The shoe plates themselves are usually identical, no matter if it has a long or short piece of friction material bonded to it. Looks like the wrong shoe, go back to Idiot Auto Parts and make them swap them for the right ones. Compare the new shoes to your old ones (you do still have the old cores, right?) and tell 'em to give you the right ones next time. I agree with Charlie, too, make sure you are not attempting to put the rears on the front.

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

Thanks to everybody. One thing is clear. I didn't know about primary and secondary shoes. Every job I've done had identical shoes.

Unfortunately that includes this one. All these shoes are the same.

('70 Challenger, front., 10")

It's also unfortunate that I don't know if these are front or rear shoes - only that I asked for front. Good thing I wasn't needing this done in a hurry.

I can't recall ever doing brakes, with the shoe material the same size. The Bendex catalog calls for two different shoes, as possible. Either a R333, or a R445. By the picture in the catalog, the R333 has the hole like your 1st picture, and the R445 has the slot like your 2nd picture. I would say you need the R333 shoe.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

The same thing happened to me a few months ago when I did my front brakes. No fault of the parts store, just mis-boxed from the factory. They where Raybestos 333PG, used on the front or rear for 10X2.5 drum brake cars (B and E body cars). There is no slot for a return spring in either the primary or secondary....the springs go into round holes on both. Take them back and get the proper shoes. They are a commen shoe for many Chrysler vehicals. If you can, get the rivited shoes (Raybestos Power Guard Plus)...they disipate heat better.

You're right. I have the R445.

Thanks

That may have to do with two things. Firstly my lack of attention, but also the fact that I've always bought the cheapest thing available. I suppose it stands to reason that a cut-rate operation might make them ALL short.

I looked at a picture of the old shoes. They all come all the way to the bottom. The front ones are about 3/4" shorter at the top. I never noticed it before. I guess I was paying more attention to working those springs without a proper tool.

As for the new Bendixes, not knowing there was supposed to be a difference I grabbed two shoes out of the box. It so happened that they were both the same - primary or secondary I don't know - so I still didn't catch on.

Got and installed the R333's, so I'm ready to put the whole 4.5" arrangement on the Valiant next. That will stop the thumping I hear and give me normal wheel capability.

Thanks