MTFCA Forum

Hi folks,
I need to replace just my brake band. I drive in an urban area with lots of stop signs and brake lights so the band suffers. With removable ears, can I replace the brake band without removing the others through the access door? When I try, the new band ends up riding over the reverse and jams up.

Appreciate any advice and knowledge.

Thanks,

John

If you are replacing the brake band through the inspection door, install it from the rear, not the front. So there is no need to remove either the low or reverse bands. With removable ears; first out brake than low reverse. Reinstall in reverse order, reverse-low-brake. Besides, there is less distortion of the bands, that end of the hogs head/pan is smaller.

Are you using the band pulling tool? It looks like a piece of wooden crate steel strap with a handle.
I find, by pulling around the drum, it keeps the band lined up & sucked down over the drum.

Mark - thanks, but I can’t understand your reply.

Speedytinc - Thanks, I just ordered that tool from Lang’s hoping it might help as you describe.

John, yes you can.

John,

Mark is saying you CAN and SHOULD remove the brake band first and through the larger end of the inspection plate hole towards the vehicle's rear. IF you were replacing ALL of the bands, through the inspection hole, the brake band comes out first, then the low band, and the reverse band last through the inspection hole. Just OPPOSITE the order if the hogshead is OFF.

Good Luck,
Terry

I suppose I’m alone but I am finding the answers confusing. To me the wide end of the hogshead inspection plate is at the FRONT of the hogshead. When I change bands I have found it best to put in the brake, low and reverse in that order. Removal is the reverse order. Certainly this the only way I have found when working thru the inspection cover. With the hogs head off, who cares as it’s so easy.

Yes, but the tail end of the hogs head is narrower, so you have to spread the bands less to fit in.

Ok so I have a question. How did you get the brake band out in the first place? The way I am reading this is, the low and reverse bends were not taken out. If they are still in place, there would be no way to install the brake band from the flywheel end of the transmission. You would have to install as suggested from the other end.

Thanks everyone! I’ve ordered the band tool from Lang’s and will have a go this weekend.

Mark, yes, removing just the brake band was no challenge - the other bands remain in place.

Thanks

John

Duh on me! The end of the band was following the angle of the pan, so was coming up in the wrong place. With my two Ts and all the others I work on, should have caught on to that, but it has been a few years since I have had to change any bands in any of them. The last time, the engine was out for other work.

Well, the hogshead is coming off. I'm now of the opinion that trying to change the brake band through the access cover is pretty near impossible. The handy band strap tool from Lang's solved the problem of getting the new band around the drum just fine. The show stopper now is that there is zero room on the inside left of the hogshead to manipulate and reattach the left ear. No amount of prying, poking, pulling, pushing, or cursing made any difference. My hat is off to those hearty souls who say they have done it. So I'll pull the hogshead which means I get to play with my ol' pal Bendix again

If anyone knows any magic incantations or sorcerers' tricks, I'd sure like to make your acquaintance.

Thanks,

John

The right side gets slid down as far as possible. left side (earless) gets pulled to the right as far as possible& back toward the rear. There is just enough room behind the pedal boss to slip the ear on & lock.

Speedytinc, thanks. I’ll give it another try and pull the left end of the band as far back as I can. Perhaps there’s magic there. A Labor Day activity.

John