Brake Adjustment opinion

F

Fordman487

Member
Hi All,

When adjusting the shoe position on early 1940 Ford hydraulic brakes, do you let the shoes drag a little, or back the shoes off until no drag can be heard or felt? What are people using as a best practice?
 
Like Jay, I always let the shoes drag just a little bit.
Rub some chalk on the brake shoes and spin the wheel to see high and low spots of where shoes are contacting drum.
I also apply 30 pounds of pressure to the brake pedal when adjusting the brakes.

I have also read where some folks sand a slight taper on the ends of the brake linings so as to make sure the center of the brake shoes are fully contacting the drum. I have never done this because it seems to me that this would indicate your drums are "out of round".

Read about brake adjustment in this thread below. Also, don't forget to adjust your hand brake.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=291543&highlight=adjust+1940+brakes
 
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One very light and quick swish sound as you spin the drum by hand. Make sure to press the pedal hard a couple times to make sure the shoes and cams are seated if this is a new assembly.
 
There is supposed to be a .005" clearance between the shoe and drum.
Ideally, you will have had the shoes arced to each individual drum for complete contact.
 
Seth Swoboda said:
Has anyone ever found a place that you can get shoes arced?
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Seth, the only place in this area that still does this is in Milwaukee.

Arcing shoes was part of every brake job I'd done "back in the day". It was simply a matter of course.
A huge difference vs. not arcing the shoes.
 
to arc shoes you need o/sized linings and as of yet haven't found anyone selling o/size linings quite often if they bond to your shoes to suit cut drums they will be o/sized but o/size linings off the shelf on their own never seen them for these
 
aussie merc said:
to arc shoes you need o/sized linings and as of yet haven't found anyone selling o/size linings quite often if they bond to your shoes to suit cut drums they will be o/sized but o/size linings off the shelf on their own never seen them for these
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With respect, oversize shoes are not required. The arcing machine is adjusted "out" to the true drum diameter prior to the shoe being sanded.
Oversized shoes are required with oversize drums. Neither of which I would ever consider utilizing.
 
With respect ,I meant to comment earlier ,Down hear we don't have the luxury of finding new drums most stock linnigs ar 3,1/6 new , so by the time you shave some off to arc you wont have much left ,your best to get over size 1/4 Bonded linings then Arc back ,all your adjustment will then be back to stock .We rarely rivet our linnig's here ,Ted
 
FlatheadTed said:
With respect ,I meant to comment earlier ,Down hear we don't have the luxury of finding new drums most stock linnigs ar 3,1/6 new , so by the time you shave some off to arc you wont have much left ,your best to get over size 1/4 Bonded linings then Arc back ,all your adjustment will then be back to stock .We rarely rivet our linnig's here ,Ted
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Hi ya Ted.

I don't believe oversize shoes are available in the states. They were outlawed many years ago. Perhaps a brake lining shop would do what you suggest.
You are correct of course that when arcing, some lining is removed.
 
As a side note, I recall many years ago reading that the OEM thickness of the actual 1940 Ford brake shoe woven lining was .128 in. thick.

Can anyone verify this?
 
19Fordy said:
As a side note, I recall many years ago reading that the OEM thickness of the actual 1940 Ford brake shoe woven lining was .128 in. thick.

Can anyone verify this?
Click to expand...


I can't verify the thickness of woven shoes, but they were not installed as standard equipment on Fords since early 1937.
 
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