Is a Proto 216 a brake tool?

[The Rusty Gear]

I was able to find Proto 217 on the webste which looks like your standard brake pliers. I have a Proto 216 which is not on the webiste. The "handle" end looks the same as the 217 model, but the plier end looks more like actual pliers, but the jaws don't close. Anyone familiar with this tool? I can't even find a pic through Google.

I was curious as to what the "plier end" was used for. Camera is out for repair so I can't post a pic

 

[Merkava_4]

Yours must be pretty old because it's not in my 2001 catalog either. The "plier part" is supposed to be for grabbing the springs if you don't have an anchor post to slide the spring onto with the "pry bar" end.

 

[Offroad Mechanic]

In my opinion this is the best brake tool ever made for everthing from passenger cars to medium size trucks. I don't know why Proto quit producing the tool but they did so back in the 80s. The eccentric cam on one end of the handle is used to remove the return springs on just about any type of drum brake. The straight end with the small bridge across the end is use to hang over the anchor pin to keep the tool from slipping off when replacing the return springs. The "pliar" end is used to hold the compression springs for removal and replacement. I let one of my acquaintences use mine today and asked me to get him a pair. I told him I would but didn't know they were out of production until I went to searching for them. I hope this helps and hang on the the best brake pliers ever made. Offroad Mechanic