The smaller ones are easier to use. I hold the nail from the back from moving, Put on spring/retainer and then use the tool to push in the spring tension until you can turn it to lock it in place.
This is also a good idea, It helps keep the shoe from moving throwing the nail out and then you have to start all over.

 

You can't use that on the bent nails, they essentially hook a 90 and point at the ground

 

From a learning perspective, do you happen to have a photo of or an explanation of the "bent nails" and are these something that you run across regularly on a rear brake job?

 

THANKS FOR THE PHOTO. Another way to depress the spring is with 90 degree needle nose pliers.One tip in the spring.The other tip behind the spring leg. Rotate the plyers, compress the spring. Tie wire to manipulate the nail.

 

You can also see the bent nails in a drum hardware kit:

 

Thanks for the example photo of a "bent nail" setup. For those, I'd be using some needle nosed vise grip pliers to deal with disassembling and assembling.. I have not yet run into this setup, but I tend to stay away from Ford repairs in general, which might explain my ignorance with these..

 

Ford has a better idea.

 

Primarily seen in D60 drums, so I really don't know if it was a Ford thing or a Dana/Spicer thing. You probably never saw it in GM because they always leaned toward their corporate (or AAM) rears.

But Ford did bring us TTB, TFI and 3Vs, so they never met a dumb design they didn't like....

 

Any idea why the emergency brake lever says Bosch? Don't for get Ford's 4.0 soch v6. Or rubber band belt drives for oil pumps.

 

I didn't recall seeing "bent nails" on the original Dana 60 drum brake rear on my truck, so it must have been a Ford/Dana brake thing or another year range of Dodge Dana 60 stuff. Regardless, I swapped my old Dana 60 drum brake rear for a late model 2nd gen disc brake Dodge Dana 60 rear, so all is good now..