This is regarding my 1967.5 2-door with split brake system (double line master cylinder). After tightening up my slipping fanbelt I took my car for a test drive, and soon heard a very unpleasant metal on metal noise. Upon removing the driver's side rear drum I found that one of the linkage pieces was broken. What are these linkage pieces for?
They consist of two pieces of wire that are attached to a little lever/cam piece of metal that is bolted to the forward brake shoe so that it can pivot. One of the linkage pieces goes to the top stud on the brake backing plate, and the other goes down to the spring that engages the star adjuster. From my experience looking at 70's american cars it appears to be an automatic brake adjuster (the kind that function when you brake in reverse). I was unaware that any of the 122s had self adjusting rear breaks. Can anyone confirm this for me? Would it be OK to fabricate replacement from heavy wire? If I did, should I use heat when making the tight bends so as not to work harden the material?? In the mean time I took out both linkage pieces and put the thing back together, will this be OK to drive for a little while?

Second question. When I was in there I noticed that the square stock key on the axle stub was badly bent. It looks like it slipped when someone was putting the drum back on and it got a bit mangled. Even though I knew better I put it in the vise and gave it a squeeze to try to straighten it out and it of course just broke. The only replacement I could find last night a 5pm was a 1/4 inch square stock key that was about 2/3 the length of the original. Orchard Supply Hardware did not have any longer ones. Will this shorter one work OK till I can fine a replacement? Any ideas on cheap sources for such a thing?

Thanks for your help and advice, I don't know what I would do without y'all.

- Mario