Boling Brothers Brakes Question

[mgm60]

I've installed the Boling Brothers Brake Kit on my 36 Ford Roadster. Replaced 48 Ford backing plates with the 39-48 Kit (picture 1). The brake shoe retaining springs sticks out slightly past the edge of the 1 3/4" brake shoes about 1/8" (picture 2). So the spring retainer interferes with the backside of the wheel studs on the drums (picture 3). Has anyone run into this problem and if you did, how did you fix it? Already called Boling and all they could do was verify I have the right #8 pins for my kit. Thinking about putting a washer on the back of the backing plate where the retaining ring pin goes through but that will cause the spring to have to compressed even more.

 

[petehoovie]

I've installed the Boling Brothers Brake Kit on my 36 Ford Roadster. Replaced 48 Ford backing plates with the 39-48 Kit (picture 1). The brake shoe retaining springs sticks out slightly past the edge of the 1 3/4" brake shoes about 1/8" (picture 2). So the spring retainer interferes with the backside of the wheel studs on the drums (picture 3). Has anyone run into this problem and if you did, how did you fix it? Already called Boling and all they could do was verify I have the right #8 pins for my kit. Thinking about putting a washer on the back of the backing plate where the retaining ring pin goes through but that will cause the spring to have to compressed even more.

 

[19Fordy]

When I ordered my Boling Bros. brake kit for my 40 Ford in 1990 I bought 4 new Boling Bros. backing plates and drums AND the Boling Bros. 2 in. wide brake shoes instead of the 1 3/4 in. wide brake shoes.

Did you also buy new Boling Bros. drums?
It appears that your drums have the studs in a different location than the 1940 drums. Hence, the rubbing.
I think the easiest solution to your problem is to install the washers you mentioned so as to make the pins shorter to provide drum clearance. I don't think you will harm or effect brake show operation.

 

[BlueNotes]

It appears that the pins are not correct for the 1-3/4" brake shoes you are using. The length of the pins for the original Lincoln (Bendix) 1939-48 brakes with 1-3/4" brake shoes is 2".
I suspect you have the longer 2-5/16" pins intended for Boling B's 2" brake shoes and drums.

 

[Tim Ayers]

Ddi you ask them if their kit works with Wide Five drums like you have? If so, like Bluenote mentioned, wrong pins

 

[mgm60]

Thanks for the responses. Yes, forgot to mention these are Wide 5 drums. The pins are correct for the 1 3/4" brake pads at 2". Boling Brother other pins would even be longer for the 2" brake shoe kit. Makes sense the position of the studs on the drums are in exactly the wrong place to work with this kit.

 

[51woodie]

MGM. I believe Bluenotes has the right idea on the pin length. Looking at the picture you attached, I noted that the "grease catcher" is on upside down. Not a big thing. I found one installed wrong when I did the Boling Bros thing on my '46 Coupe. I also had to radius the shoes by hand (no local shop available) to get full contact on the shoes.

Forgot to add pics.

 

[uncle buck]

Here’s an old NAPA brake shoe pin chart. I would go to a slightly shorter pin myself

 

[51woodie]

Brake pics. Not much contact until I sanded off the high spots.

 

[john in illinois]

I have BB 1 3/4 and 2" Brakes I just looked and both are #8 pins. I thought they would be different.

John

 

[Tim Ayers]

MGM. I believe Bluenotes has the right idea on the pin length. Looking at the picture you attached, I noted that the "grease catcher" is on upside down. Not a big thing. I found one installed wrong when I did the Boling Bros thing on my '46 Coupe. I also had to radius the shoes by hand (no local shop available) to get full contact on the shoes.

Forgot to add pics.

I did the same thing. I used old fashioned stick chalk and scribbled on the pads. Keep working until all of the chalk was removed when brake was applied. It didn't take long with some 80 grit paper.

 

[petehoovie]

Here’s an old NAPA brake shoe pin chart. I would go to a slightly shorter pin myself

 

[petehoovie]

Brake pics. Not much contact until I sanded off the high spots.

 

[Bored&Stroked]

Bottom line, the pins/spring kit you have is too high for the Wide-5 drums. If it was mine, I'd just put in shorter pins/springs and the problem should be solved.

If you can't find new springs (though they should be available if you know the part number), then my guess is that you could "manually" shorten the ones you have a bit.

 

[Tim Ayers]

Bottom line, the pins/spring kit you have is too high for the Wide-5 drums. If it was mine, I'd just put in shorter pins/springs and the problem should be solved.

If you can't find new springs (though they should be available if you know the part number), then my guess is that you could "manually" shorten the ones you have a bit.

Agree 100%. The pin & holder just need to come down a bit. Any old time NAPAs by you? If so, they should be able to help you

 

[mgm60]

UPDATE PROBLEM RESOLVED: For anyone referencing this for the same problem in the future the backing plates I replaced were 48 Ford on which I was running 39 Wide Fives to accommodate the original juice brake conversion. To cure the problem I placed enough washers on the backside of the backing plate to bring the retaining spring to almost flush with the brake shoes. Any thicker and the spring is so tight shoes won't budge and I'm pretty sure they need to float some amount otherwise why not just put a bolt in to hold them down. Now the 39 drums turn freely. Thanks for all the replies with suggestions. And by the way the kit is correct with the #8 retaining spring pins which are 2". I also have a set of late 40 drums. I put them on before the washer trick and they had no interference.