Hello Jim and anyone else who might have answer.
Fist off, sorry to post this as a new thread, but I wanted to make sure folks saw it.
I went ahead and changed the shoes - so far the left ones (Boy, there's hardly any wear compared to the new shoes I'm putting on - just the slight gap where the one rivet is lose). I could have gone
200,000 on these original brakes.One possibility dumb question though. When I reinstall the brake retractor springs, the only way I can figure to get them back on is bringing them both around UNDER the pin. The right side has them BOTH hooking over the top of the pin (that way from the factory). Oddly, The Haynes book and Ford shop manual - both of which happen to show the left side - have the rear pin hooking around from the bottom and the front one hooking over the top. There doesn't seem any way to orient that front spring to get it anchored into the hole on one side and hooking it over the top of the pin. I'm using a new hardware kit, but it seems to be the same as what I took off the vehicle. I just don't remember how the springsg were oriented before I took them off.
So is it correct the way I have it? Does it matter? Or am I doing somthing wrong?
Incidentally, the parts store guy said I didn't need the spring removal/replacement tool (the forceps-looking things). Big mistake. Getting the springs off and on is torture using needle-nose Vice Grips.
Also, I just discovered that when the dealer removed the drum to inspect the vehicle last year, the technician (I use the term loosely) left the little screw-on washers off the studs. So now I have three of them on the right and none of the left. I hate when they do sloppy work!!!!
Anyway, bruised knuckles and hands and a slightlys ore back later, it's going pretty well.
Thanks for your help!!!
Regards, Anthony Giorgianni