Hi everyone!

I have questions about two things that the Shop and Assembly Manuals don't show in enough detail for me to tell what is right or wrong. The first is the assembled rear brake connections, specifically regarding the e-brake.



My question is concerning the crossbar connection that fits in the slot in the brake shoe. The e-brake 'arm' is directly behind this and also has a slot. Is the crossbar supposed to fit in both the brake shoe and e-brake slots at the same time? Or just the shoe slot only? That is how it is shown above (brake shoe only). And yes, the engine is out of the car hence the axel hanging loose.

And since the engine is out, I can take the following photo. It shows the driver side engine compartment from below looking up. That is the battery box where the black cable is hanging loose. My question is regarding the round hole in the fender. There is another one over on the other side in the same place in the fender just above the spare tire area. Are these vent holes? And therefore should be open? Or have the plugs they had closing them off simply disappeared over the years and need to be replaced?



Thanks for the info in advance!

The one over the spare tire had a large plastic plug in it. I "think" the one over the battery did also have a plastic plug.

The emergency brake "strut" has two different ends. One end has a wider opening, that end fits over the emergency brake lever and the shoe. The narrow slot fits just over the shoe and has the anti-rattle spring on it.

Frank DuVal

Fredericksburg, VA

Well, I went out and pulled the 'strut' off the brake assembly. This is what I saw. From what folks are telling me, the slot in one end of the strut is supposed to straddle both cutouts in the e-brake arm and brake shoe, sort of holding them flat against each other. Just like shown in the picture below - except with the strut in place the cutouts would align.



The problem I am having is the slot(s) in the strut sure don't seem wide enough the straddle both parts. Here's a picture of it without the anti-rattle spring on it.



The slots in the ends only seems open enough for one part, not both. I've tried dry fitting the strut both ways and it barely fits on the shoe cutout, regardless of which end. The same goes for the e-brake arm cutout. What the heck am I doing wrong?

The curved end goes onto the E brake lever. When the lever is pulled it pivots and pushes away the rear as the strut is pushing the front shoe forward. Neither shoe can be pushed against the drum unless the other one is also being pushed against the drum. It seem like some of the struts straddle the lever and the shoe but it doesn't matter because the pivot of the lever is what applies the force to the rear shoe.

RJ tools
Salem,Oregon

Does this look right?



The arrow on the left shows the strut engaged with the slot on the brake shoe.

The arrow on the right shows the slot on the e-brake arm behind the shoe. (To me it doesn't look like it's engaging anything).

It this how the brake assembly is supposed to be for correct operation or is it just an accident waiting to happen?

With it that way the brake lever would do nothing. Try engaging the lever with that end of the strut. The slot on the rear shoe is not needed or used with that style of strut.

RJ tools
Salem,Oregon

Quote
Frank
One end has a wider opening, that end fits over the emergency brake lever and the shoe.

OK, I forgot the early was different than the late. That's what I have been working on.

Rex is right.

Frank DuVal

Fredericksburg, VA

As said before the holes should have plugs in them. The holes are for installing belt line trim. Because your car does not have the trim they are really not needed.

Sam Russell
Durham NC
1962 Monza Wagon Ted Brown EFI Gen II
1964 Spyder coupe

Oh! Is that what they are for?

My Corvair is a 700 model so it does have the beltline trim. This is good to know and hopefully will make putting the trim back on once the car is painted much easier (I wasn't the one who took it off).

Frank DuVal Wrote:
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>

Quote
Frank
> One end has a wider opening, that end fits over the emergency brake lever and the shoe.
>

> OK, I forgot the early was different than the late. That's what I have been working on.
>
> Rex is right.

No problem. It did make it a little confusing at first as I couldn't get those two fat pieces of metal to fit together in that strut slot. lol

Thanks to Rex's advice, here's a photo of the proper set up on my '61. The slot in the bent part of the strut connects to the slot in the e-brake arm behind the shoe. The cutout in the shoe itself is simply to give clearance for the strut. It's so obvious once you see it together correctly.