Bracket assembly for mounting a brake assembly and brake actuator

A brake and bracket assembly, comprising:

• a brake assembly, comprising:
• a brake spider;
• first and second brake shoes having first ends coupled to said brake spider;
• and,
• a camshaft extending through said brake spider and having a cam at a first end configured to engage second ends of said first and second brake shoes, rotation of said cam causing said first and second brake shoes to move between positions of engagement and disengagement with a braking surface;
• and,
• a bracket assembly for receiving said brake assembly and a brake actuator, comprising:
• a tube configured to receive said camshaft;
• an actuator mounting bracket disposed proximate a first end of said tube, said actuator mounting bracket configured for coupling to said actuator and defining an aperture configured to receive said tube;
• and,
• a brake spider mounting bracket disposed proximate a second end of said tube, said brake spider mounting bracket including:
• a body defining inboard and outboard sides, said body configured to receive said brake spider on said outboard side and defining an aperture configured to allow said tube to extend therethrough;
• and,
• a neck extending from said inboard side of said body, said neck configured to receive said tube
• wherein said brake spider mounting bracket is joined to said tube with a weld at an inboard end of said neck distant from said body and said neck is not welded to said body.