Self adjusting brake conversion

M

metro1

Senior Member
I don't know why I didn't of this before I just replaced all the brakes on my '59 Galaxie but is it worthwhile to go back and add self adjusters now? How much trouble is it? On a car that will not really be driven a lot how often will I have to adjust them anyway.
 
metro1 said:
I don't know why I didn't of this before I just replaced all the brakes on my '59 Galaxie but is it worthwhile to go back and add self adjusters now? How much trouble is it? On a car that will not really be driven a lot how often will I have to adjust them anyway.
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Not very often, perhaps every few years. - F F
 
I don’t know about 59, but there’s a part list out there to convert 55-56 birds to rear self adjusters. A 59 should be a 9”, so shouldn’t be a problem. Once the new shoes are seated, it shouldn’t be a big deal. If they were ground to fit the drums (another lost art) even less so.
 
MERCURY - 1957
EDSEL - 1958
LINCOLN - 1959
FORD - 1961

The 'Changeover Kit' requires modification(s) of the self-adjuster parts. I would avoid that method myself.

And then you would need later shoes that have the webs drilled for the self-adjuster hardware.
 
I left my '59 manual. They are not set up for self adjusters as the adjusting slot is in the front of the backing plate. Later self adjusters had slots towards the rear.
 
It is (was) recommended in the 1956 OWNERS GUIDE every 5000 miles as an example.

IF the front has been converted to DISC and the rear not upgraded to self-adjust, the driver will not likely notice any decrease in braking performance (other than a lower pedal as wear continues) and the front disc will wear more rapidly, especially if a METERING VALVE is not used in the conversion.
 

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evintho said:
I put self adjusters on my '54. Not sure about '59 Galaxie but mine went on effortlessly. The only mod I had to make was to cut new access holes in the front backing plates for the star wheels. Original holes didn't line up.

492758


492759
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Interesting. Did the rear carrier plates have the adjusting access holes in the correct positions?

What kit(s) did you use and did you have modify the hold-down pins at all? Does yours still have the shoe adjusting cams/eccentrics on the front brakes?
 
The access holes on the rear backing plates were about 1/4" off but still allowed access to the star wheels. The front brake shoes, hardware kit, studs and drums are for a '68 Mustang. Perfect fit. Everything bolted right on except for having to make the extra access hole for the star wheels in the '54 backing plates. Pretty common practice on '52-'54 Fords.

Self adjuster left side

Self adjuster right side

Hardware kit

Front brake drum

and BTW, here's the rear replacement drum for '52-'54 Ford stock rearends.
Comes off a '70 Ford Econoline van......

Rear replacement drum
 
I put self adjusters on my 56 Bird. While the numbers for a 59 sedan may be different (different size brakes) there was two mods that I had to make. The first is the odd shaped piece that holds the shoes at the top. It has to be thinner to account for the thickness of the adjuster cable eyelet. The second was the access to the star wheel on the LEFT side - both front and back. You have to make a second slot to access the star wheel. Not a big thing to do - just mark where it should be, drill a hole and elongate it with a tool like a Dremel. I made it the same size as factory so a regular plug will fit



To what extent the 59 sedan is different from a 56 TBird, I don't know. Didn't have to buy new shoes as the old ones had the correct holes.
 
evintho said:
The access holes on the rear backing plates were about 1/4" off but still allowed access to the star wheels. The front brake shoes, hardware kit, studs and drums are for a '68 Mustang. Perfect fit. Everything bolted right on except for having to make the extra access hole for the star wheels in the '54 backing plates. Pretty common practice on '52-'54 Fords.

... and BTW, here's the rear replacement drum for '52-'54 Ford stock rearends.

Comes off a '70 Ford Econoline van......

Rear replacement drum
Click to expand...

paul2748 said:
I put self adjusters on my 56 Bird. While the numbers for a 59 sedan may be different (different size brakes) there was two mods that I had to make. The first is the odd shaped piece that holds the shoes at the top. It has to be thinner to account for the thickness of the adjuster cable eyelet. The second was the access to the star wheel on the LEFT side - both front and back. You have to make a second slot to access the star wheel. Not a big thing to do - just mark where it should be, drill a hole and elongate it with a tool like a Dremel. I made it the same size as factory so a regular plug will fit

To what extent the 59 sedan is different from a 56 TBird, I don't know. Didn't have to buy new shoes as the old ones had the correct holes.
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OK, I see where you guys are coming from now. It is do-able.

Being the OCD person that I am, I would want to go to later model(s) take-offs but the junk-yard days are gone.
 
paul2748 said:
I put self adjusters on my 56 Bird. The first is the odd shaped piece that holds the shoes at the top. It has to be thinner to account for the thickness of the adjuster cable eyelet. The second was the access to the star wheel on the LEFT side - both front and back. You have to make a second slot to access the star wheel. Not a big thing to do - just mark where it should be, drill a hole and elongate it with a tool like a Dremel. I made it the same size as factory so a regular plug will fit.
Click to expand...

Paul is right! I forgot about the washer that holds the shoes at the top. Had to make those too. I used about 10ga sheet metal and cut 'em to shape.....

https://www.fordbarn.com/attachments/492891/
 

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