Suburban 3/4 Ton 4WD V8-305 5.0L (1986)
RETURN SPRINGS
Purpose
Drum brake systems maintain a constant residual pressure on the wheel cylinders. Return springs overcome this residual pressure and keep the
shoes/linings from contacting the drum when not in use. Return springs also overcome the resistance encountered by the shoes/linings as they
are retracted across the contact pads on the backing-plate.
Return springs can be separated into two categories, shoe-to-shoe and shoe-to-anchor pin.
Tools Needed
To remove and install return springs, three separate tool are useful. These three tools are often combined into a single pair of "brake pliers".
Return Spring Tool
Shoe-to-Anchor Pin
These springs are attached at the brake shoe webbing (two 90 degree bends in the shank of the spring slide through and under webbing) and
hook around the anchor pin.
Removal
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A brake spring tool is inserted over the top of the anchor pin and rotated
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As you rotate the tool a notch on the bottom side of tool slides under the spring and lifts it up and over the anchor pin.
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The other end of the spring should now just pull up and out of the hole in the brake shoe webbing.
