Brake Return Springs - Tension Test

[Loren L.]

What's the difference in #'s tension between standard and HD Brake return springs 59-62? How do you test? What is the effect of sending springs to the cad/zinc plater in terms of loss of tension? Thanks.

[Mike M.]

Re: Brake Return Springs - Tension Test

Testing of spring tension is done as such:Insert distal end of spring in question betwen superior and inferior incisors and proximal end chained to front bumper of 48 Studebaker. Place Stude in low gear, release clutch, and distance, in cm. it takes for you to release incisors,multiplied by 283 plus 265 divided by 327 is the force needed to spread the HD spring. Base springs are less than this #.I just love to jerk lawyers. mikie

[John M.]

Re: Brake Return Springs - Tension Test

Loren,
Can't answer about the tension of the springs, but I can tell you that if you have the springs plated, you will need to bake them at 400 degrees for at least 1/2 hour to drive the hydrogen out after plating. Failure to do this can cause the springs to break from hydrogen embrittlement. Plating the springs should not change the tension of the spring.

Regards, John McGraw

[Loren L.]

You're the only person I know that MIGHT

own a Studebaker - can I borrow it?

[Chuck S.]

Re: Brake Return Springs - Tension Test

You have it absolutely right, John.

There was a thread recently about the danger of not immediately heat treating fasteners after plating, but I can tell you from experience that failure to do this for springs will show up quicker and more dramatically than with fasteners.

I had my original clutch release lever replated with zinc. I had to plate the spring clip that retains the throwout bearing because it was riveted to the lever...it was shiny, but who would know, right? When I installed the throwout bearing on the lever, the spring clip snapped like a twig.