willysmjeeps.com

Hi all
I have now finally come to the point when I am going to reassemble the parking brake on my Saudi M38A1. I have gathered all the missing parts, the only things remaining on the jeep when I got it were the parking brake handle and the brake drum.

When I disassembled the brake drum I found a deep dent in it, so this one had also to be substituted.

Along the way gathering parts I have heard several stories about the difficulties with the parking brake on the M38A1, they may as a worst case pinch during driving, or at least the inner brake shoe will rattle or get noisy. Maybe this is the reason why many of the Swedish jeeps coming from Saudi don't have the parking brake installed.

Do anyone have any experience, tricks or tips on fixing this rattling? Is there any spring or something else to add on to get rid of the rattling, and make the parking brake safer?

Any tips would be greate.

This is a very old and well discussed topic. The key to a quality parking brake is quality parts, quality work and patience. You must either resort to entirely new moving parts or as needed clean up and bush all worn holes. The added tension-ing with springs is a last resort.

If you google, "Mjeeps m38a1 parking brake" you'll get most of the previous posts.

or google this: Mjeeps m38a1 parking brake site:willysmjeeps.com



The rattle problem comes from worn parts. When the holes in parts G, J, LL, and W wear and their associated pins and bolts wear then it is this play that results in the rattle. The cure is new parts, or reaming and inserting bushings in the old parts, or adding a spring to maintain tension on the loose parts. The spring addition helps but also causes accelerated shoe wear. Bottom line it is the nature of the beast to rattle and most owners develop a dead ear to it.



This worked for the M170 and a similar spring mounting will zero most of the slack in the M38A1 control rod linkage.

Thanks Wes for this very comprehensive information. I will be alert when installing the stuff.

It seems to me that I have got all new parts regarding the lever and shoes, no play between lever shafts and shoes. I have the rod type linkage and I will check the play between linkage and handle. The replaced brake drum is second hand, but checked in a lathe for roundness and thickness of material. I hope all this will do during my life together with the jeep.

If you do indeed have all new parts, the stud and it's mating hole in the speedo gear case of the transfer are not worn and the control linkage rod is not loose at either end then you should not have any noticeable rattle.

Thanks again Wes.
The "V" pin in the speedo gear case was also left there from earlier days, so I'll check that extra. I'll also check for any play between handle and rod linkage an extra time.
Thanks