[Snowtractor]

Hi JOrdan,
I would gladly sell you one of my spare set, but I believe they are in storage and I have no access to them . They may be in the carrier but I can not drive out and look until the weekend. It too is in storage in a friends barn some distance from here.
That said I was going to say that the brake piston should not be able to pull out, but you figured that out already. When putting the rollers and pieces in they can go in backwards easily so make sure you test first.
I do have the brake peices in the shed and can measure them up for you if you need to know original lengths.
They likely added the brazing to lenghten the use of the drums and linnings instead of replacing them. A transport truck brake place should know how or where to reline them.
I would use a brazing head and torch and just melt the brazing off. Shouldn't get too hot to affect the base material.
Last ditch would be using tractor trailer springs. They come in different poundages and have swiveling hooks on the ends and worked in my carrier. Although I matched up the length with an old broken spring. I will try to find a pic on the net.
yours
Sean