1929 should put you beyond the "equalizer" configuration of the 1928 E-brake capable system. (Early "tied in" Ebrakes, i.e. no separate E-shoes, were mostly converted over to the newer system.)
The "equalizer" mid-shaft was a thing of mechanical beauty - and VERY functional too as long as everything was clean and tidy. But the multiplicity of parts were just more places to get "crapped up" with road dirt and remove some of the equalization - a situation which will cause the car to "dive" to one side or the other on braking.
Ford endeavored to simplify the brake not only to prevent this, but also to lower costs. What he ended up with with only minor changes between later model years relies much on "stretch" of the rods to equalize between left and right - and shoe adjustment for "proportioning" between front and back.
Ford original concept of the brake was 1/3rd braking on the front and 2/3rds on the back. The concept then was this will prevent the rear from "swinging around" and leave the driver in better control in a panic stop.
The theory is in error in that with 2/3rd of the braking power on the rear, it tends to put the rear wheels into a "skid" first - which once skid occurs eliminates actual contact with the road - leaving the rear to "float" on the skid. Exactly what the original concept claimed to avoid.
Modern thinking is at variance with this - most modern cars do 2/3rds of the braking on the front wheels and 1/3rd on the rear. In a driving/braking situation, the driver will actually instinctively "steer the skid" that panic braking causes - and greater braking force on the front takes advantage of a center of gravity geometry of the car which puts greater force between the front tires and the road. And yields a quicker stop and better control for the driver.
Note that with the fronts wheel skidding first, it leaves the rear wheels to "turn" over the road, maintaining alignment and contact, and accomplishing the hope of the original concept.
Joe K
