I have a 1990 Ford F150 pickup. That self adjuster cable is broke on
the left side. I got the part and was going to change it today. I
just found out that I cant get one of the upper springs off. I've
worked on chevy rear brakes and they allow enough of a straight
section of the spring to get a vice grip on it, and pull it off. This
ford spring, the thicker one, has no end to it to grab with a vice
grips. In other words, the hook is almost at the end of the coil part
of the spring.

Yea, i know they make special tools for this, but I dont have one and
being rural, I dont care to drive to the nearest larger city, which is
30 miles away, especially since we have icy roads at the moment.
Is there some way to get this spring off without a tool? I could
probably put the vice grip on the spring and bend the hook, but that
would likely ruin the spring.

Anyone have any other ideas or suggestions?

I think the smaller spring can be removed with the vicegrip because it
has a longer end to grab. But of course the hook from the heavy one
is on top of the thinner one. I am trying to remove them from the
"anchor pin", if I am not being clear.

Thanks

WB

aarcuda69062

Force a flat blade screwdriver tip in between the the coils near
the end, keep the screwdriver perpendicular to the backing plate
and then pull the screwdriver towards the anchor pin until the
spring comes loose.

or, grab it with a side cutters.

or, call someone who does have the right tool.

or, take off the lower spring, remove the adjuster, remove the
hold downs and flop the shoe outward until the spring is off.

shawn

If you have the needle nosed vice grip pliers, then you may be able to grip
it by the coils rather than the end.

Find someone locally with an old brake spring pliers or a brake spring
"shoe" to pop it off, and then back on with. Then pick up a cheap one
next time you are in town so you don't get caught short again.

A KD 280 should cost you between $5 and $10.
A Lisle 46750 is about the same price. but the KD works a lot better.
KD's 3841 at about $15 is pretty good too, but the 280 will do the
job.


A Snap-on BT11 will cost you closer to $30, and a Snapon 131A (brake
pliers) will set you back pretty close to $80.

Astro and a few other suppliers have brake tool kits with the pliers,
spoons, and hold-down removers for in the $40 range.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

berkshirebill

If you grab the spring hook with a pair of wire cutters you probably won't
damage the spring any worse than using vice grips.

Bill

jim warman

This is the kind of stuff (and the vise grips do it too) that can introduce
"stress risers" in to the spring. How long before the spring fails? I have
no idea.... Will it be life threatening? Probably not... but there is always
the possibility of a life altering experience (and it wont be like winning
the lottery).

Using the right tool for the job will minimize "exposure to failure"....

But then... I'm an overpriced dealer tech that believes that we should do
things logically and safely..... On a truck this old, I would likely
recommend replacing all of the brake hardware (springs, hold downs, etc.).

You only get one chance to stop... if that doesn't work, you don't get a "do
over".


Was this top posted or bottom posted?

get some brake spring pliers.springs are fuckin dangerous.

http://www.minibite.com/america/malone.htm

shawn

If the spring breaks, the brake linings will just drag on the drum surface & increase
wear on both drum & shoes. You will hear a constant metallic dragging sound.

refinish king

Not to mention the spring will tear the shit out of the drum!

RK

scottm

How bout this.....?
put it back together till you get the right tools.