Early (1940's) front brake "floater" design

D

David Martin

Member
I heard today, from a very reliable source, about front brake "floaters" that were available for all Fords from the Model A to until Ford shifted to hydraulic brakes.

Production of these parts ceased about 30 years (?) ago.

The only description I was given was the main part was shaped like an upside down wye and the existing operating pin (push rod) had to be shortened to accommodate the new part.

Have any of you folks run across this design "floater" and can you tell me more about it?

Some pictures and a manufacturer's name would really make my day.
 
Look up FlatheadTed on line -he's in Australia. I have his floaters on my 1935 coupe and 29 Model A. They feel like hydraulic brakes.
 
Like this?
 

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TinCup said:
Like this?
Click to expand...

Yes. I used a set of them in my car when I was in high school. They worked "OK", but not great. Not as good as original brakes restored to original specs.

The main issue I saw was that the angled link pieces in this design did not give as much sideways force to the brake shoes as the original brake wedge does for the same amount of pin force down.
 
The main issue I saw was that the angled link pieces in this design did not give as much sideways force to the brake shoes as the original brake wedge does for the same amount of pin force down.
Click to expand...

Actually, depending on where you catch the angle, it may result in MORE force.

This the old mechanical thingy called a "toggle."

But it may depend on where you catch the action. Near the top of motion of the pin, the wedge might do better. At the bottom the toggle will do better.

Adjustment would be critical with this setup.

Joe K
 
4440922-T400300.jpg

Here are the early style floaters made for the model A front brakes. not sure but may also work on some early V8 style front mechanicle brakes. The push rod or pin must be shortened 5/16 to use these. These aren't made by flathead Ted . these parts are sold by Specialty Ford parts -9103 E Garvey ave.-Rosemead CA.-91770 Phone 626-280-4546 Jim Gordon is the man. These parts eliminate several parts and require 30% less pressure at the pedal. they don't use or require that the brake tracks be rebuilt and center the shoes inside the drum. This setup is effective and simple as it gets. I use them on two of my model A's and like them. They must be set up correctly to be effective!!!!!!!
 
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Sacramento Vintage Ford had them in their catalog. Mine were called, SHURE-STOP-EQUALIZERS. They worked well on Minerva!!---Bill W.
 
They do work but keep those brakes adjusted! If the floaters ever go past the full open position, they can lock up and getting the drums off usually results in quite a fight.
 
John said:
They do work but keep those brakes adjusted! If the floaters ever go past the full open position, they can lock up and getting the drums off usually results in quite a fight.
Click to expand...
Dog:cool: here,
Well, is anyone DUMB enuff NOT to keep yo' brakes kjusted, wanna' git KILLED??:eek: Thet's why they put them square thingys on there!!! If you DON'T know how to kjust yo' brakes, you shuld git sum car with "self" kjusting brakes & fergit Model A'ing! (Hey, Purdy, is thet yo' hand, kjusting yo' brakes?)
Buster T.:cool:
 

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Sacramento Vintage Ford has discontinued handling the floaters. Specialty Ford Parts is no longer making them. However, they are checking to see if they have enough parts to make me a set.

Thanks for all your help.
 
Sometimes they come up on eBay. I've got two pair on the shelf that I got on eBay for possible future use. I remember when JC whitney and Warshawsky offered the floaters. The adds claimed that the floaters beat hydraulics. A couple of friends in the next town used them and encouraged me to try them. By the time that I got around to trying them on the coupe,( my every day driver at the time) Specialty Ford parts was the only place that I could still find them. They worked good and do beat hydraulics if properly setup and used with decent drums. I use cast iron drums on the coupe and banded steel drums on the front of the speedster. The floaters eliminate the need for roller pins, brake rollers and the tracks are no longer used. The tracks remain in place but only the track rivets are still used for lower spring connection as original. The floaters center the shoes and have a mechanical leverage advantage over the original setup.. The floaters are easier than setting up and centering the original brakes and save money by eliminating several parts that usually need to be replaced or rebuilt.

The last two model A's that I did, I used the original set up. My roadster appeared to have all original brakes and I just rebuilt the original system. I wanted to keep my first model the same as it was when I was a teenager so I rebuilt the original brakes on my 29 strip down but used better drums with reinforcing bands on the front.
 
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