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I thought that the front and rear brake shoes are identical. Looking at all the different part suppliers, they are but ORD 9 SNL G-740 shoes them as different #'s. The mfr's parts #'s are close but off by one digit. Anyone know why? Im only curious and suspect they are in fact the same.

7735544 SHOE, front, w/LINING, assy
7412178 SHOE, rear, w/LINING, assy

Right after I posted this, I realized that they are probably referring to the front and rear as the front facing and rear facing shoes as the linings are different lengths. Im and idiot sometimes
Is that right?

That brings up another question, and Ive heard it both ways, does the longer of the 2 linings face the front or rear?

Here's how the rear wheel should look. I'm guessing the front is the same
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/22032 ... .jpg[/img]
Brake Shoes by idiocrates, on Flickr[/url]

short to the back, long to the front.

Is that for a M38a1? My M38 doesnt have the spring shoe hold downs. My shoes ride in a slotted tab on the backing plate instead.

Yes....I'm pretty sure this is the backing plate for an M38

sorry....my turn for a duh...my pic is of an M38A-1.....your's is the pic of a backing plate from an M38....and you are further correct.....no hold-down springs on an M38

Doesn't matter....how the shoes are aligned or held in place if the shoes are bottom anchored the long shoe is always forward.
Where folk get confused is that all later braking systems where the shoes are linked together @ the bottom (not anchored to the backing plate) the short shoe goes to the front