Fairlane Brakes

Kahuna

Kahuna

Well-known member
Guys, now that I've got the electrical issue resolved, I'm going to start on the brakes.
The brakes work, but not well. I'll go through each wheel, cylinder and brake linings, then maybe replace the master cylinder also.
I checked with NAPA today, and they seem to have all the parts needed, but I thought I'd ask if there is any preferred supplier that many use on the forum for brake parts, or anything to stay away from.
Jim
 
one reason some have poor brakes is the drums have been turned down to much and the shoe no longer fits.in the old days garages had a device for bending the shoes.its always a good idea to check this when installing new shoes.
 
darrell said:
one reason some have poor brakes is the drums have been turned down to much and the shoe no longer fits.in the old days garages had a device for bending the shoes.its always a good idea to check this when installing new shoes.
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Actually the shops ground the shoes (arced is the proper term) to fit the exact size of the drum. They were made over-size. So they broke in a lot faster and stopped better initially. This was outlawed in most states around 1976.

Shoes, I've bought at Rock Auto and just about everything else for the brakes on my '59. Even places like NAPA have mostly China or Mexico parts, no way around it most of the time. Always try to get a better quality shoe if possible.

If the master is old, chances are good that it may be ruined in the bleeding process. The bottom of the bore is where this ridge of rust and crud collects. Push the rubber cup past it and it gets scored and will pass fluid. The cups dry out too. I just replace the master and brake hoses on any old car I work on.
 
bobss396 said:
Actually the shops ground the shoes (arced is the proper term) to fit the exact size of the drum. They were made over-size. So they broke in a lot faster and stopped better initially. This was outlawed in most states around 1976.

Shoes, I've bought at Rock Auto and just about everything else for the brakes on my '59. Even places like NAPA have mostly China or Mexico parts, no way around it most of the time. Always try to get a better quality shoe if possible.

If the master is old, chances are good that it may be ruined in the bleeding process. The bottom of the bore is where this ridge of rust and crud collects. Push the rubber cup past it and it gets scored and will pass fluid. The cups dry out too. I just replace the master and brake hoses on any old car I work on.
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I think a better term would be regulated. You can still have shoes legally arced today, all you have to do is find someone with a machine that is approved to do it with all of the modifications necessary to keep the dust from being released into the environment. The fact that the machinery is expensive combined with the popularity of disc brakes makes it almost impossible to find someone to legally arc your brake shoes.

Charlie Stephens
 
darrell said:
imagine the dust people ate years ago around those old brakes
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This is why I get a chest cat scan every year like clock work. I was exposed to plenty of shoes being ground and even yanking off a drum on old iron was some exposure to asbestos.
 
If you buy the correct shoes-lining there should be no need for this arcing. Ive just been through this . If you can find a brake bonder they will fit the correct lining once seeing your drums.
I went locally here and luckily the guys I was dealing with were 'old enough' they called me onto the work shop , said your front drums are 1st oversize, so the other guy went away came back with 1st oversize linings. I then asked ok so do I need to machine the drums or anything else.. He looked at me strangely and said 'no just fit them' Sure enough , when I sat the linings in the drum they fitted perfectly, same for the rear. Ive got the best brakes now Ive replaced all the lines and honed the wheel cylinders too.
 
That's interesting, Talk.
I've never heard of linings described that way here in the US
Thanks
jim
 
On my 62 Galaxie restoration I replaced EVERYTHING in the brake system with parts from Rock Auto.That was 7 years ago.No Problems.
 
darrell said:
one reason some have poor brakes is the drums have been turned down to much and the shoe no longer fits.in the old days garages had a device for bending the shoes.its always a good idea to check this when installing new shoes.
Click to expand...
That's what I was thinking too. Nobody arcs shoes in anymore, and most people don't even know what that means. I can't even find anyone in my town to turn drums who's smart enough to measure drums so they are the same size side to side.
About the best bet is just get new drums if they measure much over stock.
 
thats what it boils down to.i had new brakes on my 56 when i got it and man they were awful.i pulled one drum and about 3/4 of the shoe was touching.ive driven it for 2 years now and they get better every year.
 
Over the weekend several of us went to a car show.
Many guys mentioned Rock Auto as a pretty good source for parts.
 
Kahuna said:
Over the weekend several of us went to a car show.
Many guys mentioned Rock Auto as a pretty good source for parts.
Click to expand...
In some cases that's true BUT check out the cost of shipping and also unlike your local supplier IF you get a wrong part you have to ship it back on your dime :( Plus you have no way of knowing the country of origin that made your part,sadly Raybestos has really jumped on the import offshore bandwagon for Fords Bendix used to be at the top but after some recent mergers who knows for sure.
 
Thanks Jeff
I've been fortunate in the past to get most of the parts needed for other cars thru NAPA. Including stuff like Main bearings for my Flathead and the like at very reasonable prices.
Also, you can check the quality right on the spot.
Something that might be of interest to others here is that at my NAPA store, the Owner encouraged me to open an account. It makes it easy for them and me and they give me a discount on anything I buy. I call it Jim's Rod Shop (I don't have a shop).
 
Kahuna said:
.....
Something that might be of interest to others here is that at my NAPA store, the Owner encouraged me to open an account. It makes it easy for them and me and they give me a discount on anything I buy. I call it Jim's Rod Shop (I don't have a shop).
Click to expand...
It works out for both of you, he gets more of your business and you get a discount.
 
Advance Auto is now listing Ceramic lined shoes for some 50's Fords,Ceramic will fade less and decrease drum wear around 20% better than the cheaper semi-metallics.
 
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