Brake System Locking Up

[Ken]

I drove into town Saturday, 50-55 for a bout 15 minutes and coming up to my first turn, the brake pedal was rock hard.
As I started slowing down I could feel the significant drag of the brakes. They weren't locked up completely but there was a lot of drag.
Called the wife, got the trailer and got it home...

Couple hours later, I unloaded her and brakes are working.
So I am thinking I had the rear brakes (stock drum) adjusted too tight and when things heated up they just got tighter.
But, even if this is so, why all the sudden? So I pulled the rear wheels off and started looking real close.

The only questionable thing I found, was a broken end of the adjuster spring clip.
I'm thinking, this is allowing the brake to loosen or tighten from vibration?
It looks like these just slide on, after removing one of the star adjusters.
Does anyone know for sure how this is installed/removed?
Anyone got one laying around, they would be willing to drop in an envelop and send me?

Any suggestions? Does this sound like anything anyone else has experienced and worked out?
I've got a disc kit to replace the rear drums, but I'm hoping for a quicker, simpler solution, so we can make the Classic.

[Bill K]

I just redid my brakes and but still need to bleed them. I hope I don't have the same problem since two of my clips were broken off. So I didn't try to replace them since they looked to be a part of the backing plate. I figure the spring tension on the shoes would keep the adjusters in place. It didn't look like they just slip in or maybe I just looked wrong. If there is an easy way to replace them, then I'll sure do it.

[Faron]

I have the full set of Drum brakes sitting on the side of my house. If you post up a good pick of the part you need I will be happy to drop on in the mail for you. That goes for anyone in the club.

[Ken]

Hi Faron. The clip I am speaking of is mounted under the adjuster block. The clip is intended to hold the start adjuster in place. It is the outlined part in this image. Blue is the broken side.


After more inspection though, I'm doubting my problem is related to this broken clip. For some reason, my brake shoe is dropping into the backing plate groove and hanging up. See how the cylinder piston is twisted. I can take a tool and lift the shoe out of the groove and everything pops back into place. This has happened twice now.

[Faron]

Yea I think I have a couple of them, PM me your address and I will send um out.

[Bill K]

Ken, are you needing the clips just for the back? If so, I'd like to see if I could get the front ones from Faron. If you need both back and front then that's just fine.
Faron: If Ken only needs the rear, can I get the fronts from you?

[Ken]

Thanks Faron. You rock!

I only need one (for the back, if they're different).

I have a rear disc kit still in the box. If I can't find and quickly resolve my problem, I'll just install that. I was hoping to save that for a new project, but I really hate spending too much time or any money on a 40 year old brake system.

Unfortunately, that would likely mean canceling the Classic for us. I don't see how I could get it installed in time.

[GregR]

even if your buggy is down, doesn't mean you can't come to F'Burg....might be relaxing....

[CoryN]

aren't those clips welded on? I don't see how you could swap them out. I have one broken one also, but it never caused any problems.

[Bill K]

I did some checking and yes, they are a part of the backing plate. I'm glad to hear you had no problems without them, Cory.

[Texasbuggys]

Yeah need the backing plate with block