M37 Brake Issue - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

dispatcher1011 · 01-17-2010, 11:30

On my 1954 M37, I seem to have a problem with my left front brake. I stripped all 4 drums off, and replaced all 4 wheel cylinders. Upon closer inspection of the left front, it appeared that the wheel cylinder was 'bent out' from the way it sealed against the backer plate. (it seems like they just bent out the wheel cylinder to make it fit). I removed the backer plate, and proceeded to hammer and press it until the wheel cylinder would sit flush, like the other three. Now, I don't have enough space on the other side to hook it up to the brake hose/ banjo bolt/ brass knuckle. What gives? Is my backer plate all tweeked out? It wasn't much more than a few presses with a hyd press to get that cylinder to mount properly. There simply isn't enough room for the steering linkage vs. the back of the wheel cylinder. Anybody run into this? How'd you fix it??

WillWagner · 01-17-2010, 11:37

Post some pics of it.

Mike_L · 01-17-2010, 11:48

Hmmm, does the new cylinder match the other cylinder in the back? There were left and right cylinders, front and back used the same cylinders.

dispatcher1011 · 01-17-2010, 12:26

pics

dispatcher1011 · 01-17-2010, 13:18

Everything matched. Feel free to tell me I have the wrong one, that would be welcomed at this point.

Mike_L · 01-17-2010, 13:19

Your backing plate looks like it could be distorted. The pressed out portion of the plate that the cylinder mounts to looks flattened to a degree near the bottom. I attached a photo of my backing plate and you can see the portion where the cylinder passes through the plate is pressed out, away from the hub equally from top to bottom. The bottom of your plate looks flatter, like it is closer to the hub than the top. Could be the photo angle though. Compare it to your other plates, I believe it is the same plate on all four wheels.

dispatcher1011 · 01-17-2010, 15:33

Mike_L, thanks for the pic. That's just what I needed to know I wan't going insane. It's hard to tell what sadistic things the previous users of this truck did to it. I think I will just get a different backer plate, and try that out. The adjusters seemed run out all the way too, as opposed to the other ones, and I think that it had new linings on it. (not the other 3, just the one wheel with new lining on it

) Oh well, whats a few more parts.

dan labarge · 01-18-2010, 12:55

i have a rotor kit on mine,you can have my front backing plates if know anyone goen this way.

dispatcher1011 · 01-18-2010, 20:34

Would you ship? Let me know. PM also sent.