Is there anyway to identify the original rear brakes parts - shoes, cyc, drums and springs?
GM drum brake shoes of this period have a groove running down the middle to show when pad was worn down to a level where they should be replaced. I do not know if any aftermarket shoes did that. Wheel cylinders have a cast date much like any other cast piece on the car. The other items in your question I am also interested to hear about.
Loren
thanks for the info - -anyone else on the drums, are they date coded as well, shoe springs . . do they have some special colors?