Parking Brake Retainer Spring Tool

[Ludigdrums]

So, I finally found the correct wheel studs and got them in place, but I cannot seem to get that darn parking brake installed. I'm getting hung up on the retainer springs.

How is this possile without a special tool?!?! All the manuals say hold it with a needle nose pliers and try and get the pin through and twist it. I've done this before on regular drum brakes with a tool I have, but it's too big to fit in the hole.

The hole in the spindle is .5" Is there one of these tools that fits through that hole, or are there any other special tools or tricks?!

Thanks as always...I'm very anxious to get my baby back on the ground with all 4 wheels!

- Jeremy

 

[GTR1999]

These are a PITA to do. Couple of tricks,try feeding a piece of dental floss in there to hold the springs compressed until you have them in place. The tool sold helps too,it's nothing more then a cheap screwdriver that has 2 slots cut into it. You can make one if you have a cut off wheel for a die grinder or dremel tool. I end up using pliers and the tool to do them. Even with the arms off the car and on a bench the job sucks.

 

[Ludigdrums]

Cool, thanks. I saw that tool from all the online Corvette sites, but couldn't see close enough to see what the tip was. That sounds like it'll work as well as the dental floss thing. Thanks for the ideas.

I still can't believe this design. How'd they ever manage to assemble these quick enough in the plant? I wonder if they had some real special tool or something.

As you said...what a PITA!!!

- Jeremy

 

[GTR1999]

good luck,take your time and you'll do it.

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

So, I finally found the correct wheel studs and got them in place, but I cannot seem to get that darn parking brake installed. I'm getting hung up on the retainer springs.

How is this possile without a special tool?!?! All the manuals say hold it with a needle nose pliers and try and get the pin through and twist it. I've done this before on regular drum brakes with a tool I have, but it's too big to fit in the hole.

The hole in the spindle is .5" Is there one of these tools that fits through that hole, or are there any other special tools or tricks?!

Thanks as always...I'm very anxious to get my baby back on the ground with all 4 wheels!

- Jeremy

Hi Jeremy: Glad to hear that you got the studs & hopefully you'll still be able to use your wheels. About your Parking brake woes. Yes, like the other post said, they are a real PITA. I never buy special tools. I'll just make my own outta what I got. I just get a look at what the special tool looks like & go from there. What I did for the emergency brake tool is just "notched" a flat blade screwdriver. I used a die grinder cutting tool to do the notch & it worked like a charm & saved me bucks 'cause I used a cheap screwdriver that I had lying around.
Just take your time, save the new vocabulary for another time, & you'll get it together. Good luck & take care


Peace: Dave

 

[Ludigdrums]

Yes, I made the tool and what a help! Still a little bit of a PITA, but at least it's not do-able.

Check out this link I also came.

across.http://rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair.html

Thanks for all the help!

- Jeremy