VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION New User Forum Brake backing plate for 1930 Special Sedan.

I have started restoring my car and started with the easy stuff like replacing the fuel pump, replacing the carb with the correct one and getting the engine to run. Now I am working on the brakes. I started with the left front and have removed the shoes. So here is my dumb question. The backing plate is coated with some dirt and a little surface rust so it needs to be cleaned. I plan to wire brush it to remove the dirt. After I clean it up what do I put on it? Is there something that would neutralize the remaining rust? After cleaning would it be wise to spray some paint on it to keep it from rusting further?

Hi There and welcome to Chevy Chatter II!

Your best bet would be to remove all of the parts on the backing plate and then remove the backing plate. You can then bead blast the backing plate and paint it a dull gloss black. Then reassemble.

Thanks for your reply to my question.
I was thinking of not having to take off too many parts to replace the brake shoes. I see your point in removing the flange plate I would have to remove and inspect the lever, cable, cable housing and cam shaft. I hesitate to remove too many parts since after 80 years I could damage the parts in trying to remove them.
In order to do a through brake job maybe these parts should be checked over although they seem to work OK. After removing the shoes I thought I would just try to remove the brake shoe anchor plate to see how it goes. There are four 5/8" nuts holding it on. Behind each nut is a knurled lock washer. I tried loosening one of the nuts and it broke free but the lock washer keeps the nut from turning more than a half turn. If I turn any further it seems like I would break the lock washer. Any thoughts on this?