Brake linings

Do a search on this forum ... you'll find the full range of views swinging from "Absolutely Essential" to "Absolutely Unnecessary" !! :) (and ditto re woven lining too!)
 
It only stands to reason that full contact would give better braking. When you pull off old shoes that are worn to rivets on one end and like new on other you understand the need for centering as well.
 
I just went thru a complete job on my brakes but had no luck at all getting the shoes (woven) arched. I went to many places, many mechanics old and older but had no luck. They had all heard of it but could not do it. My search included Model A shops and others. I guess my shoes are OK because my brakes are now very good. ' Are Model A shoes/linings you can buy new from the many suppliers we have available, arched pretty closely to the curve of drums ? Are we talking thousandths here or something a lot less. Just curious. Thanks for your opinions. Bill in Maine
 
I fully understand why the arcing. When I look at woven linings all I can think of shredding ie pieces flying everywhere.
 
Put the shoes with linings inside the drum and see if they contact all around. If they do your good to go, and if they don't you'll either need to arch them or wait till they wear till they contact all around. That could be no time at all, or years.
 
Do as updraught said. Use a feeler gauge and see if you can slip it in anywhere. If you can file or sand down the high spots until the feeler gauge won't go in any more. Not rocket science. Easy to do.
 
Yes I did mine with a file. Or sand paper will work. A hand held grinder might be a little aggressive.
 
Daren,


The short answer is, Yes arching was always done to match drum brake shoes to a freshly tuned brake drum.


Years ago the practice of arching was out lawed by the Feds. from fear of air pollution from grinding brake shoes & the resulting toxic dust.


You can 'hamster' fit brake shoes by using sticky backed sandpaper inside the brake drum to flatten high spots.


The real talent on this subject would be Randy Gross.


best, jb
 
Yes do it all the time. We use a disk grinder with a disk like would be used in a table saw with vacuum attachment. I also have an AMMCO but it's not set up.
 
Sand paper inside the drum and then sanding the shoes to fit works quite well. But, as said, thats half the job. Making sure they are centered and making full contact is the other half.
 
jb-ob said:
You can 'hamster' fit brake shoes by using sticky backed sandpaper inside the brake drum to flatten high spots.
Click to expand...

I don’t understand. What is hamster fit? Can you elaborate?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
springerpete said:
I just went thru a complete job on my brakes but had no luck at all getting the shoes (woven) arched. I went to many places, many mechanics old and older but had no luck. They had all heard of it but could not do it. My search included Model A shops and others. I guess my shoes are OK because my brakes are now very good. ' Are Model A shoes/linings you can buy new from the many suppliers we have available, arched pretty closely to the curve of drums ? Are we talking thousandths here or something a lot less. Just curious. Thanks for your opinions. Bill in Maine
Click to expand...

Pete/Darin ,
Arcing the shoes to drums is part of my standard procedure for comprehensive brake jobs I do. I only do them for the brake jobs I’m doing. It does make a difference along with centering and Proper track restoration. It along with proper centering of the shoes along with proper system restoration is what will give you great brakes weather they are woven or molded/bonded linings.

I’m surprised you can’t find someone in the Model A or v8 circles up your way that can do it. My machine is part of my cache of equipment for doing a proper brake job. I’ve done many A brakes and when I gave the seminar at Dearborn last year on brakes noted that it is an important step.
You might ask Jeff at Brattons if he know’s of anyone up northeast that can do them.
Larry Shepard
 
Last edited:
"The other method takes more time, but does the same job! With the brake shoes on the car, put masking tape around the diameter of both brake shoes. Now slip the drum in place and put the axel nut on. Spin the drum. Now remove the drum and examine the tape. The tape will be worn off where you have high spots on the lining. Grind down the high spots until you can assemble the drum and not have any drag from the lining. You may end up putting the drum on and off several times, but that is the only way of do-ing the job."

https://www.oneillvintageford.co.uk/acatalog/A-1126.pdf
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top