Re: The Duchess Project: 1940 Super 8 Convertible Sedan

Posted by Joe Santana On 2022/4/27 20:30:13

I'm not a bad wordsmith, but, God, I'm a lousy mechanic!

I removed the right front backing plate successfully (did not break anything or hurt myself) and proceeded to cleanup the frame and fender underside, the nuts and bolts. I managed to mount the new RF backing plate.

I slipped the drum and hub over the steering knuckle, but the drum wouldn't quite close into the backing plate. I thought the shoes were holding it back and needed to loosen the adjustment and it took me awhile using the old plate to figure out which way to turn the adjustment. (You plunge the brake tool through the hole and under that star and push downward to bring the shoes in toward the center.

There was hardly any adjustment to begin with, there were a few clicks before I hit bottom. That seemed to help, but the drum just wouldn't close up, like they do (the backing plate and drum) when they are not on the steering knuckle.

I tightened the nut with the poker against the bearing, added the special washer with the holes and the beveled nut. It comes very close to allowing me to get the cotter pin in, but not close enough and I can't turn the hub much at all.

I had to quit. I took an Aleve but my joints are so sore from squatting down, I couldn't do any more.

I'm off maybe a few 32nds. I don't think Packard would use a different steering knuckle that close in size, but now I wonder.

I'll try again tomorrow.

Attach file:

---

  DrumNotAll the way.jpg (118.26 KB)


  HowCloseBut Tight.jpg (85.36 KB)


  backandHubnotmounted.jpg (124.46 KB)