Brake spring tool...which one?

[Compu Doc]

Can anyone point me in the right direction of the brake spring tool that would be used to remove and install the springs that hold the brake shoes to the backing plate. My brake shoes are held on by one spring for each shoe that the spring is going to a clip that comes through the back of the backing plate. The clip looks like a bent nail that the spring attaches to. If you could provide a link to what it looks like with a photograph of it I'd appreciate it.

I've done these in the past without the brake spring tool but it was a PITA and I really do not want to have to deal with it that way again. I am looking at getting the right tool for the job to make life easier and their are so many different brake spring tools out their a person could spend hundreds on different ones and not have the right one when needed.

Looking for someone that has used the one that they are showing.

 

[94f450sd]

go get a door panel clip remover or grind a notch into a flathead screwdriver

 

[dave186]

I think this is what you are looking for. I have one and it works great.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1683&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

I just looked in my Matco catalog and they have one as well for much cheaper.
http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2390
part number is RST10
also LT880 looks handy, might have to get one.

 

[Goofyexponent]

I have always had good luck with needle noce pliers and needle nose vice grips.

 

[RLDSL]

these critters come in handy along with a set of these critters

 

[Compu Doc]

I have always had good luck with needle noce pliers and needle nose vice grips.

Been their done that. 94F450SD had a good idea except I do not have a grinder and a screw driver wide enough to have cut a V in. What I did though is bought a nail remover that was almost flat on one end and had a 45 degree end on the other. I used the 45 degree end as a handle and with the flat V end I pushed in on the spring at the end furthest away from the coil for more leverage. Then with my other hand rotated the clip in place then released pressure on the nail remover. Worked great for the hold down springs.

For the big spring that goes across the top of the shoe I put one end in the shoe that was already mounted on the backing plate and the other end in the shoe that was not yet mounted. Then I put the shoe in position and secured it with the holding spring to the backing plate with the flat end of the nail remover.

After that was done I put the spring in that spreads across the bottom using a pair of vise grips. Then I put the adjuster on the shoes. Then finished the rest.