Remember when we actually used to re-line brake shoes by hand?

I was cleaning out the shop yesterday and found my old rivet gun from my first job in 2008. Back then my boss would have me spend half a Saturday relining shoes for an old Pete. Now I just order them pre-lined from the parts house and swap them in 20 minutes. Do any of you still bother with rivets or is everyone just buying premade these days?

3 comments

3 Comments

miles94628d ago

Pre lined is just the way to go now for sure. I remember having to match those old asbestos shoes on a 359 and spending a whole afternoon swearing at the rivet gun when the mandrel would jam. Now you pop those new shoes on and they come with the hardware kit and everything. But there was something satisfying about hearing that last rivet seat perfectly, knowing you did it right.

kim_west28d ago

Did you ever break a drill bit in one of those and just sit there staring at the sky for a minute?

eric_murray2628d ago

Nailed it on the satisfaction part though... that perfect sound when the rivet sets flush and you know you just saved a guy from having to burn up his brakes on a long grade.