Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 91.djvu/633

 How to Reline Your Automobile Brakes

An easy method of inserting new lining in a brake drum By Joseph Brinker

��MANY automobile owners who delight in tinkering around their cars and keeping them in repair would like to reline the vehicle brakes were they sure they could do it properly and not jeopardize their lives through poor workmanship. The drawings shown indicate the various steps necessary in properly relining a brake. First, jack up the rear axle of the car and remove the rear wheels as per the instruc- tion book furnished by the car maker. At

��about 1 3^ in. from the external measure- ment to get the cutting length of the lining for one internal brake. This is shown in Fig. i.

Then put the band in a vise as shown in Fig. 2 and chisel off the heads of the old rivets. In marking the new lining for the rivet holes, lay the wheel on the bench or floor with its hub side down. Put the lining and band in place as shown in Fig. 3 and wire the band in place. Then with a

���Cutting the length of a new brake lining, marking the places for the rivets, punching and counter- sinking the holes, placing the rivets, hammering them to a head and applying the band

��the same time disconnect the toggles and remove the brake clevis pin, the adjustment- screw and the various coil springs attached to the brake-band. Then remove the band, keeping in mind the top and bottom of the assembly. Clean all the parts thoroughly with gasoline and remove all the old grease around the brake dust-guard and the axle- stub.

Buy the new lining in one piece but do not attempt to cut it until the brake has been removed. To obtain the correct length, measure around the outside of the external brake-band with a tape, allowing an overlap of about }/£ in. so that the lining is not short at the band opening. Deduct

��soapstone stick or pencil, mark the position of the holes in the new lining, using the holes in the band as a template. Then cut the holes with a leather punch similar to that shown in Fig. 4.

Place the band and lining together in a vise or on a bench as shown in Fig. 5, hold- ing the lining in place by several small bolts inserted through corresponding holes. A wood countersinking bit and a brace will serve for countersinking the holes in the lining so that the rivet heads will be below the lining surface.

After that is done insert a rivet through a corresponding hole in band and brake and place the countersunk head of the rivet on

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