No Guts?!

[TrkEnvy]

I have been using the pandemic to make progress on my 71 and went to tackle the rear brakes to get her rolling and found this when I took off the driver side drum.. There is nothing in there but a wheel cylinder. I’m a newb when it comes to drum brakes. I can change shoes and springs, but I don’t know all of what I need to find or the best way to source what I need to make this drum functional again. Disc brake swap isn’t in the budget right now. Any junkyard suggestions? There aren’t any 12 bolts I’ve seen in my local pic a part.

[truckster]

Scary. This is a pretty good diagram. Check the wheel cylinder for rust too.

[franken]

Is the other side intact? If so, use it as a model. Don't pull the intact side apart until the bare one is rebuilt.

[palallin]

After seeing that, I wouldn't bother trying to save the cylinder: they are cheap. Replace it.

[hamjet]

Stepping on the brakes you would think brake fluid would be all over blowing out the wheel cylinder. interesting.....

[special-K]

Originally Posted by hamjet

Stepping on the brakes you would think brake fluid would be all over blowing out the wheel cylinder. interesting.....

Yeah, we need more story here. Was this rear just installed? Ever drive the truck? A c-notch in frame but no rear brakes? Is the other side the same? You had no parking brake, right?

You need to look on the parts board for a C'10 being parted or contact a Hi octane member who keeps parts inventory for many of the parts. A lot of this stuff isn't available in replacement parts or restoration

[palallin]

Originally Posted by hamjet

Stepping on the brakes you would think brake fluid would be all over blowing out the wheel cylinder. interesting.....

Good point. The replacing probably needs to start at the rubber line to junction block on the axle housing and go all the way to the drums.

[liftlawssuck]

Replace wheel cylinder and brake hose too. Get a complete hardware kit with adjuster. I believe the bar (can't remember the right name) and e brake lever are separate items. Also that pic above isn't exactly the same as what you have there. Check other side and use it as a Chinese blueprint if it's all together. They are super easy to put back together.

[toolboxchev]

one two syllable word

RockAuto

[jayoldschool]

First step is figure out if fluid is getting to the back. Start with disconnecting the hard lines at the rear cylinders, then work forward. Lines to block. Flex line to block, etc, etc.

Always the best how to with images:

https://www.pbase.com/nufsed/drumbrake

And the first pic with everything:

[TrkEnvy]

My apologies for the lack of context. I haven’t driven the truck. My dad and I tore the truck down to the bare frame and C notched it while it was stripped. When he sold his house I had to move it out of his 2000 sqft shop into my 3 car garage. 12 bolt that came with the truck was thrown back under the frame and I am doing my best to make it a drivable truck again this year since I am a Realtor with a fair bit of extra time lately. When I took the roller wheels off it and removed drum I found this.. I appreciate the diagram posted. That’s great info. Now I just need to find the drum bar I guess. Most everything else comes in a full rebuild kit I believe, but I haven’t been able to find one of those in a kit. I appreciate everyone’s help with my truck.

[Steeveedee]

You can try the parts for sale board here, and maybe buy the parking brake strut from a vendor like LMC if none pop up here. That piece doesn't look like the factory piece, though. You can find new springs for them at most parts houses, though they may have to order them.

[TrkEnvy]

Thanks!! I am gonna watch the classifieds on here. I am thinking if i can just buy everything short of the drum from someone who is parting a truck with a 12 bolt that may be best. I would hate to buy it piece by piece only to learn I missed something when I go to put it together.