Brakes
- Thread starter Nlbloch
- Start date
Patrick L.
Well-known member
A good repair is recommended, such as, that of Les Andrews and Ford service bulletins.
stouchton
Senior Member
Rear drums require a puller - though a sacrificial nut and a good whack with a hammer might get them free.
Shoe centering tool is required to do it right, though you can get pretty good performance without it. I'm used to 60's vintage non-powered drum brakes, so my expectations weren't too high to start with! Soon I will center them properly and compare.
Pedal holding board helps immensely in getting things adjusted, though some think it sets the brakes backwards - rears locking before fronts. I drive an old pickup as my daily driver, so it is just natural to me that way!!!
Arc of replacement shoes needs to match drums - not sure how you do that in a home garage.....
Depending on how you buy your replacement shoes, you may need rivet tool to rivet new linings onto shoes.
oh... and X2 on a good repair manual! Andrews or Pearsons would be good choices. I have both, with preference for Pearsons.
Shoe centering tool is required to do it right, though you can get pretty good performance without it. I'm used to 60's vintage non-powered drum brakes, so my expectations weren't too high to start with! Soon I will center them properly and compare.
Pedal holding board helps immensely in getting things adjusted, though some think it sets the brakes backwards - rears locking before fronts. I drive an old pickup as my daily driver, so it is just natural to me that way!!!
Arc of replacement shoes needs to match drums - not sure how you do that in a home garage.....
Depending on how you buy your replacement shoes, you may need rivet tool to rivet new linings onto shoes.
oh... and X2 on a good repair manual! Andrews or Pearsons would be good choices. I have both, with preference for Pearsons.
Hook
Senior Member
I don't think you'll need any special tools. Get the reference books mentioned, and do a search on this forum. There's lots of discussion on brakes, and some really good suggestions on how to set them up. If adjusted properly, they work really well. However, everything in the system needs to be tight.
If you start and have questions, post them here and you'll get a ton of help.
If you start and have questions, post them here and you'll get a ton of help.
Purdy Swoft
Well-known member
some special tools will make the job easier. The video, How to stop on a dime is offered by many model A parts venders. This video in my opinion is the best reference that is available. You get to watch Lloyd Kerr rebuild the complete system and explain it in common sence terms as he goes. Les goes way off on the brake rod adjustment and I would pay NO attention to any of it. When Ford made the brake rods adjustable, it was for a common sense reason, so that they could be adjusted as needed.
Tom Endy
Well-known member
My advice would be to locate a club member who has knowledge of a Model A brake job and ask him to mentor you in the project. There is also an excellent video available from MAFCA, and Les Andrew book is invaluable. There is a lot of things you can do wrong if you are not fully aware. You need to be sure the brakes are done correctly.
Tom Endy
Tom Endy
Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
What Tom said!
The most important tool is a good understanding of how the mechanical brake system works. If you've never worked on this type brake system before, then study up on it so you understand how each part functions to give you good stopping power. As Tom mentioned someone who's done a good brake job before would be a good mentor.
Some people in the past, rather than learn how to make the mechanical brakes work right, simply throw them out and install later hydraulic brakes. This is a big expense and then you have to worry about rotten hoses and rusted cylinders.
The most important tool is a good understanding of how the mechanical brake system works. If you've never worked on this type brake system before, then study up on it so you understand how each part functions to give you good stopping power. As Tom mentioned someone who's done a good brake job before would be a good mentor.
Some people in the past, rather than learn how to make the mechanical brakes work right, simply throw them out and install later hydraulic brakes. This is a big expense and then you have to worry about rotten hoses and rusted cylinders.
Nathan,
I sent you a reply to your PM... My suggestions as Tom Endy states would be to find someone who is very schooled at Model A Mechanical rebuilding, brakes specifically. There is a great deal of knowledge,inspection/process of restoration to do them correctly. The only self help resource I would really recommend is LLoyd Kerr's "How to Stop on a Dime" video... It is very comprehensive. Restored properly, broke in, and adjusted properly they can stop on a dime! don't even consider water brakes ( hydraulics) as it is a huge step backwards.
Looks like you're in Chicago area..(I'm in St. Louis area) you should be able to find someone up there that is very schooled at rebuilding. Hire them, learn from them as they do it (hopefully you can work with them) .. .and you will gain great knowledge of your car and how to service it.
Good luck!
I sent you a reply to your PM... My suggestions as Tom Endy states would be to find someone who is very schooled at Model A Mechanical rebuilding, brakes specifically. There is a great deal of knowledge,inspection/process of restoration to do them correctly. The only self help resource I would really recommend is LLoyd Kerr's "How to Stop on a Dime" video... It is very comprehensive. Restored properly, broke in, and adjusted properly they can stop on a dime! don't even consider water brakes ( hydraulics) as it is a huge step backwards.
Looks like you're in Chicago area..(I'm in St. Louis area) you should be able to find someone up there that is very schooled at rebuilding. Hire them, learn from them as they do it (hopefully you can work with them) .. .and you will gain great knowledge of your car and how to service it.
Good luck!
I second Tom Endy and Larrys 40 advise . If you do it right ( $2000 +) you will probably not drive enough to do it again. I thought about doing mine myself but decided it would be better to have one of our club gurus do it while I watched and learned . Glad I went this route as there are a lot of tricks of the trade involved . Learned a lot but that was 9 months ago and have forgotten most of what I learned .
