15" T Brake springs

[BulldogMack]

I bought a brake shoe/hardware kit. This style to my understanding is a "T" style brake. Each shoe has a needle that goes through the backing plate, through the shoe. I for the life of me cannot figure out how the simple springs go. I adjust the brakes and it spits the springs and retainers right off. I'ts about to get drug out to the pasture. Every video or photo I've ever found is a different brake setup.  1988 R688 with a 12k front axle. 15"x4" brake shoe. Any help is much appreciated. It’s 

Edited 2 hours ago by BulldogMack

[Geoff Weeks]

these are the type with a pin (loop) at the bottom and a single return spring across the cam end, with "brake nails" mid way that have a spring and a retainer that you compress and make a 1/4 turn correct? I have had problems with the nails/retainers not being right. 

Other than that, they are like old drum brakes on cars, not much to them.

Photo of the problem might help. 

[BulldogMack]

Yes! It came with two different spring sizes, 2 different “nails” and they fit like garbage. You sneeze on them and it spits everything off. Do springs go on the inside as well? I can mushroom the nail if needed. At this point I have no recollection AT ALL about how they’re originally supposed to be assembled and where. This is the only thing keeping this truck on blocks. I can’t remember how the springs even go on the dang thing at this point. Beyond frustrated.

[BulldogMack]

Is that even how these go?

Edited 2 hours ago by BulldogMack

[Geoff Weeks]

Looks right to me. 

 

[BulldogMack]

So should I mushroom the nail or pinch the retainer in some way to assure it won’t come off? 

[Geoff Weeks]

I just saw you have spring between the backing plate and the shoe as well as on the shoe to cap side. I have never seen spring on the "inside" the shoe rested on pads on the backing plate, much like a car does.  So only one spring on each "nail".

[BulldogMack]

So the kit I received must be for different applications as well? I’ll remove everything between the shoe and the backing plate, and put the springs on the outside of the shoe. I’ve never seen these style brake shoes and I am entirely uncertain on how tight they’re supposed to be. I’m assuming just use whatever spring holds them in better?

[Geoff Weeks]

They are "obsolete" but I liked them better than the Q's because they held the shoe in position better with the pin and loop on the bottom end. My 1989 had them but it was likely the last year to use them.

The "nail and spring" are just there to hold the shoe against the backing plate. There shouldn't be a whole lot of force, just enough to prevent the shoe from "rattling" against the plate when the brakes are released.

The above diagram doesn't show two spring on the nail, only one. One is all I have seen also.

[Geoff Weeks]

Here is a link to the manual, but they barely mention the T brake.

Brake manual