Need help...LT1 rear caliper

[Al 96 Ram Air T/A]

I'm in the process of converting all four brakes. The front - C5 calipers.

The rear - rebuild the original calipers. I've managed to get all of the new seals and such back together. However, I'm stuck with the parking brake spring. How do I re-engage the tangs? I tried several different prying methods, using a large screwdriver to compress it, but after nearly impaling myself, I thought it was time to ask for help.

Is there a preferred method? i.e. on the car or off the car, lying on the ground, etc.

Because of the way the spring-tang is hooked, you can only engage one side first. My buddy thinks perhaps it would be easier if I removed the parking brake cable, but if I do, I doubt I can reattach it to the hooked arm.

I'm stuck...

[Injuneer]

Would you lke me to copy whatever's in my Chiltons for you? It has the basic steps to reinstalling the components of the caliper, indicating when in the process you need to "install the parking brake lever return spring". Doesn't tell you how, but it tells you when, and has some assembly "blow up" diagrams.

[Al 96 Ram Air T/A]

Thanks Fred...but I managed to get it after all. I slept on it, and tried again after dinner. For anyone else looking for "how I did it", see below:

The big thing to do is make sure engage the lever (26) onto the pin (27) AFTER you slip the end of it through the hole for the brake cable. Once you do this, use a clamp (I used a vice grip pliers) to hold the lever tight against the caliper housing. Said another way, when you lift up on the parking brake handle, notice which way the lever moves. You want to hold the lever in the opposite position, as if the brake is off. This way, the spring (25) needs to be compressed the least amount to be realigned with the notch in the lever.

I used a large, straight blade screwdriver to push against the free end of the spring, until it popped into the slot on the lever. BE CAREFUL not to stab yourself, If the screwdriver slips, your hand will probably take the hit. I would highly recommend a good pair of leather gloves...just in case.

Also, the spring tang must be inserted in the slot BEFORE you try to compress it. Why? Because you'll realize that the spring must be rotated to slip the tang in the slot on the housing. (29)

So, I managed to get one side done, and did not stab myself in the hand (LOL). I did it with the caliper on the ground too. You might be able to re-engage the spring once the caliper is mounted, but to me it seemed like there would be less room to work.




Photo used courtesy of shbox.com