brake rods too long? really?

TomInCologne

TomInCologne

Senior Member
Hi guys and gals,


i am in the process of adjusting my brakes after mounting new front drums and front brake linings. In the process i realized that the pre-owner of Margarethe has put in brake rods with a bent i them, presumably to shorten them. So, i bought a new set of brake rods and swapped them against the old ones.


Problem now is that all new brake rods seem to be too long. When i adjust the brakes, the reach the end of the thread on the clevis before reaching a proper set-up. On all four brake rods!


Is there an adjustment on the brake pedal or between the brake pedal and the axle which transfers the movement of the brake pedal to both sides of the vehicle?


Thanks in advance for your help.
 
Bob Bidonde said:
The brake rods should all be preset at 51-7/16" to 51-1/2" and not need changing thereafter.
Click to expand...


well, i am trying to set my brakes as per Paul Shinns video, who tells me to take off the brake rods, adjust the brakes on the brake drums. Afterwards, mount the brake rods again and adjust their length.


This does not work, they seem to be too long.
 
TomInCologne said:
Hi guys and gals,

Is there an adjustment on the brake pedal or between the brake pedal and the axle which transfers the movement of the brake pedal to both sides of the vehicle?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Click to expand...

There is an adjustment at the brake pedal that affects the position of the service brake cross shaft. It is the first adjustment that should be made if the arms/levers of the x shaft are not perpendicular to the frame when the brake pedal is at the top of its range.

If the frame and x shaft is a 30-31 with the stop light switch on the middle x member, the adjustment of the pad that actuates the stop switch should be 1/16" from the x member at the switch.

Warning: The lever from the brake pedal to the service brake x shaft on our 30-31 coupe seems to have a very slight but visible bend that begins at the clevis pin where it connects to the service brake x shaft. I had to turn the rod over 180 degrees to get the pad that actuates the stop switch to strike the switch straight on and not a bit sideways.

I hope this is helpful, others more experienced will chime in.
 
I had the same experience. The activation arms were not setting at the right angle. I remember straightening one or two and replacing the front activation rods to get the correct angle. Start with the cross shaft as recommended above.
 
Well, i sussed it.


I checked the cross shaft but that looked all-right.

Then i had a closer look at the clevis... The thread on the clevis (plural clevisses?) was not cut deep enough. i got my set of thread cutters our and re-cut them and i got it all set.


That may be the reason why the previous owner bent a double angle into the brake rods to get them shortened...


Thanks everyone for the help
 
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