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+--- Thread: Remove Ruby Brake Cross Shaft (/showthread.php?tid=9859)
Remove Ruby Brake Cross Shaft - Jamie - 21-02-2025
The bearings for my cross shaft are non-existent and some fixing bolts are missing, so I am trying to remove it to clean and repair it. Trying is the operative word.
How do the ends come off? I have removed the cotter pins and used plenty of penetrating oil, but nothing seems to move. Is it brute force or something more subtle? These are the parts that I am trying to shift. Suggestions would be appreciated.
Jamie
The pictures will not load, but I am trying to remove the ends which take the cables and the middle piece with the wiffle tree hanging down.
RE: Remove Ruby Brake Cross Shaft - John Cornforth - 21-02-2025
Hi
The outer two bearing brackets were originally riveted to the chassis rails, but these may have been replaced with nuts and bolts.
The various shaft levers with cotter pins should come off, some alternating heat and cold plus penetrating oil and brute force ought to eventually do the trick.
If you can remove the shaft from the car it will make inspection and refurbishment easier. I appreciate that you still need to remove some of the components to be able to wangle the shaft through the hole in the central chassis member.
The centre bearing square plate should have its slot holes positioned at right angles to the slot holes in the chassis, to allow both up/down and fore/aft alignment when reassembling.
RE: Remove Ruby Brake Cross Shaft - Ruairidh Dunford - 21-02-2025
I usually have to use quite a bit of heat two large pry bars to get the brake cable levers off the cross shaft.
RE: Remove Ruby Brake Cross Shaft - Jamie - 22-02-2025
Thank you for the replies. I have managed to remove the outer arm on the driver's side, using a jury-rigged puller. I had to file away a large burr first where someone had clouted the end of the shaft. The middle assembly is loose, so I just need to shift the passenger side arm and pull out the shaft.
Jamie.
RE: Remove Ruby Brake Cross Shaft - Jamie - 23-02-2025
All out and on the bench. Thank you for the advice.
RE: Remove Ruby Brake Cross Shaft - David Cochrane - 23-02-2025
Well done!
RE: Remove Ruby Brake Cross Shaft - Belinni - 24-02-2025
If your bearings are shot, i have found that new onescan be fabricated from an off cut of roofing Zinc sheet
RE: Remove Ruby Brake Cross Shaft - Jamie - 24-02-2025
(24-02-2025, 10:39 AM)Belinni Wrote: If your bearings are shot, i have found that new onescan be fabricated from an off cut of roofing Zinc sheet
They are completely shot. Luckily, I rescued some clean scrap zinc when we had our roof redone last year.
Jamie
RE: Remove Ruby Brake Cross Shaft - Hugh Barnes - 25-02-2025
And remember not to make the bearings too good a fit and allow some play. Otherwise, the cross shaft will bind in them when the chassis flexes...
RE: Remove Ruby Brake Cross Shaft - Jamie - 25-02-2025
(25-02-2025, 09:08 AM)Hugh Barnes Wrote: And remember not to make the bearings too good a fit and allow some play. Otherwise, the cross shaft will bind in them when the chassis flexes...
Thank you for the advice. That makes a pleasant change from trying to remove slack in bearings.