CMP brake question

[Tony Smith]

Regarding the "Major" adjusting bolts, the manual says there is a special tool (a long oval-shaped hole in a flat bar) that fits the head of those bolts. It wasn't a military tool, it was a regular truck part, but i have never encountered one for sale. I have just used an adjustable spanner on the flat sides, but I don't think that is the best option.

Do any modern US tool makers like Snap-on, Proto or others make the flat-bar tool or a special shaped ring spanner for these bolts, seeing as it is a regular truck adjustment?

[rob love]

I have never found a modern version of the tool, but have picked up originals at various military shows as well as various military surplus dealers.

[Phil Waterman]

Originally Posted by rob love

I have never found a modern version of the tool, but have picked up originals at various military shows as well as various military surplus dealers.

Hi Rob

If you happen to have one could you take a couple of photos of the wrench. Are you speaking of the tool for the actual adjustment end or the locking nut? I used a couple different open end wrenches for the locking nuts.. Have one short 3 inch for the adjustment end. I was hoping there is special shaped one for the locking nuts particularly for the front which are hard to get at because of the drive ball units.

Cheers Phil

[rob love]

The tool is for the adjuster. I have always found an appropriate size offset box wrench works best for the locknuts.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi All


As you may remember a month ago I posted a question about Major/Minor brake adjustments on the larger CMPs at that time I wrote;


"The last three times I have done this three wheels RF, LF, LR all needed almost any nothing, but the Right Rear both A & B have needed much more. What I also noticed was that they turned much easier than all the others."


Here is the Right Rear B Adjuster as it was after adjustment


Screen Shot 2019-08-14 at 3.03.24 PM.jpg


Here is the Right Rear B Adjuster 62 miles later as it is today.


IMG_2584 (1).jpg


None of the other A or B adjusters have moved, so I think the problem is clear one adjuster is no longer staying put but is rotating back from the force of the return spring. Obviously this is not a state of affairs that can be left uncorrected.


Cheers Phil



So the question is do what do I do and in what order.

[Lynn Eades]

Hi Phil, Can you change out the backing plate?
If not, is the offending adjuster working its way off the (adjuster) bolt.
The bolt is usually staked on the outside of the snail. Try compressing the snail back further onto the bolt, with something like a valve spring compressor. If it moves back, peen the bolt?

[Grant Bowker]

Is it possible that the spring for the offending adjuster has either partially or fully cracked? This would cause loss of tension and also create blunt ends at the crack site instead of the ground flat ends of the spring. Possibly leading both to reduced tension and angled application of pressure. I've only seen one such cracked spring (that I recognized, maybe there were others) and it wasn't very obvious.
Just curious, do you notice any difference in force to rotate the two directions on that spring and compared to the other spring on the same wheel? You might have to take out the brake shoes to get enough rotation to notice and remove the effects of all parts other than the specific spring but you are probably getting close to doing that as you investigate.....