71 K20 rear brake question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Jthomas · 11-12-2016, 08:23 PM

Working on getting a 71 K20 road worthy, I have gone over the brakes and realized that it is missing all the hardware for the self adjusters. I have the Eaton rear with the 12" brakes. I have not had any luck finding the parts I need, mostly the arms that go against the adjuster wheel. Does anyone know of a source for these.

I bought the truck from a friend, he has owned it since the mid 80's and as far as he knows it was never messed with. I assume all the trucks came with self adjusting rear brakes, or is it possible that it could have came without them? I guess worst case I don't have self adjusters and periodically adjust them by hand.

Here is a pic of how the brakes were when i pulled them apart, both sides looked like this. I did get a spring kit and they have different length anchor springs in it, one is shorter to go to the self adj. rod. As you can see in the pic. both of my anchor springs are the same length which makes me think it could have came from the factory like this, or someone made an effort to remove the self adjusters. Any insight or leads would be much appreciated.

**Stocker** · 11-12-2016, 09:35 PM

Pretty sure they all came with self-adjusters. Quick search found a couple pics that might help. No idea about a source.... maybe junkyard?

**special-K** · 11-13-2016, 09:26 AM

Looks like someone lost the parts earlier, or eliminated the adjusters for some other reason. The parts are hard to find. Going to have to be found used, I'm pretty sure.

toolboxchev · 11-13-2016, 10:46 AM

You most certainly will wish to have those back up and moving properly. They do not work correctly unless you move the adjusting wheel by hand every 3-6 months.

That would be no fun.

coreyjhen · 11-13-2016, 03:42 PM

Rock Auto sells a couple of different self-adjuster repair kits: http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/c...epair+kit,1904. They're no fun to install, but it beats manually adjusting the brakes.

Jthomas · 11-14-2016, 09:30 AM

Thanks for the input guys, I was able to find the arms at a local junk yard. They are rough but should do the trick.

11-12-2016, 08:23 PM	#1
Jthomas Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Hummelstown, Pa Posts: 14	71 K20 rear brake question Working on getting a 71 K20 road worthy, I have gone over the brakes and realized that it is missing all the hardware for the self adjusters. I have the Eaton rear with the 12" brakes. I have not had any luck finding the parts I need, mostly the arms that go against the adjuster wheel. Does anyone know of a source for these. I bought the truck from a friend, he has owned it since the mid 80's and as far as he knows it was never messed with. I assume all the trucks came with self adjusting rear brakes, or is it possible that it could have came without them? I guess worst case I don't have self adjusters and periodically adjust them by hand. Here is a pic of how the brakes were when i pulled them apart, both sides looked like this. I did get a spring kit and they have different length anchor springs in it, one is shorter to go to the self adj. rod. As you can see in the pic. both of my anchor springs are the same length which makes me think it could have came from the factory like this, or someone made an effort to remove the self adjusters. Any insight or leads would be much appreciated.

11-12-2016, 09:35 PM	#2
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,533	Re: 71 K20 rear brake question Pretty sure they all came with self-adjusters. Quick search found a couple pics that might help. No idea about a source.... maybe junkyard? __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

11-13-2016, 09:26 AM	#3
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: 71 K20 rear brake question Looks like someone lost the parts earlier, or eliminated the adjusters for some other reason. The parts are hard to find. Going to have to be found used, I'm pretty sure. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

11-13-2016, 10:46 AM	#4
toolboxchev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 2nd left past the stump on a dirt road. Posts: 2,629	Re: 71 K20 rear brake question You most certainly will wish to have those back up and moving properly. They do not work correctly unless you move the adjusting wheel by hand every 3-6 months. That would be no fun.

11-13-2016, 03:42 PM	#5
coreyjhen Registered User Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 110	Re: 71 K20 rear brake question Rock Auto sells a couple of different self-adjuster repair kits: http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/c...epair+kit,1904. They're no fun to install, but it beats manually adjusting the brakes.

11-14-2016, 09:30 AM	#6
Jthomas Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Hummelstown, Pa Posts: 14	Re: 71 K20 rear brake question Thanks for the input guys, I was able to find the arms at a local junk yard. They are rough but should do the trick.



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