Flathead Ted's floaters

[Brendan]

i got a set of flathead Ted's floaters from Macs, i think i am missing something? i have the old type of equalizers in the front brakes and the original type adjusters in the rear. do i need pins that the wedge presses against. also their are four nuts that come with the kit, are they lock-nuts? oh it
please help thanks Brendan

 

[Bassman/NZ]

Flathead Ted is a Barner, he may chime in, or send him a PM.

 

[Steel 35]

been there done it, but cant help without pictures. pm me if you would like.

 

[jakesbackyard]

I put Ted's kit on my '35 and the brakes work great. I had a few questions when I did it a year or so ago and Ted was a great help with some info as I did it. At the time I reached him through his web site, but he's on here a lot. PM him.

 

[jimTN]

I have them on my 32 and A, they work great and were not a problem to install. I had no problem following the instructions. Do remember the nuts are lock nuts that go on the adjusters and are on the outside of the backing plates.

 

[37ford4dr]

i would like to see pictures of your install if you are inclined to post them thks bob

 

[FlatheadTed]

Brendan What Model car ?? you may need pins , l

i got a set of flathead Ted's floaters from Macs, i think i am missing something? i have the old type of equalizers in the front brakes and the original type adjusters in the rear. do i need pins that the wedge presses against. also their are four nuts that come with the kit, are they lock-nuts? oh it
please help thanks Brendan

 

[Brendan]

well i finally got some photos of the parts i got from Macs

 

[JM 35 Sedan]

Brendan, when you get these floaters correctly installed and get some road time on your vehicle, I would really appreciate a follow-up post with close up pictures of the floaters in place and a report on how well they function, estimated % of braking improvement, etc. I would like to install them sometime soon on my '35 fordor driver.

 

[Brendan]

Brendan, when you get these floaters correctly installed and get some road time on your vehicle, I would really appreciate a follow-up post with close up pictures of the floaters in place and a report on how well they function, estimated % of braking improvement, etc. I would like to install them sometime soon on my '35 fordor driver.

i can do that , i plan on takeing it apart soon, i wont to get the brakes done by memorial day weakened their is a reliability run that i wont to go on

 

[37ford4dr]

memorial day weekend thats a full year away....i think you can get it done by then unless you really are a procrastinator. i just can't envision in my mind how these work better than whats there. i know everyone says they work great and my mechanical brakes could certainly use some improvement, since they seem to take a long time to slow the vehicle down....i couldnt imagine trying to stop from highway speeds

thanks for the pictures i would like to see more and especially get your feelings of the improved braking experieice

 

[FlatheadTed]

You have all the bits you need except the the Ford adjuster links # 48-2042 ,You may be able to make them ,or some one may know of a suppler .When we do brake jobs here if the drums are worn over say 12" 3/2 we use bonded /soft linings at 1/4" .Then we shave radius them to fit .They work on the principal of free movement at the adjuster end ,you need to make sure the head of the link 48-2042 does not bind on the housing .They have supplied you with springs these are shorter than the stock ones and stronger you may need to stretch them or drill new holes, When you fit the adjuster bolt you will need to run a tap through the thread to remove the rust .Ted

 

[4dFord/SC]

FYI, Mac's carries the Brake Shoe Adjusting Link-Pickup, 48-2042

 

[Shadetree]

I installed Ted's Floaters on my `35 with new soft linings and they work great. After a couple of adjustments they have worn in and have required no further attention in months.

Don't try this at home. I demostrated them at a car show recently by parking on a hill side, pulling the hand brake, starting the car, getting out and letting the car idle in neutral. I told an official I had the only car there with a four wheel parking brake!

I think of these floaters every time I have to make a sudden stop.

Shadetree

 

[Brendan]

well i got started taking the brakes apart, it seems that i always pick the hottest days to work on my truck. the Winfield tools puller works great.the next step is to clean 75 years of grease and dirt. on Tuesday i plan to take the drums to have them turned and the shoos arced

 

[37ford4dr]

thanks for the photos, i have to read up on these things cause i am drawing the biggest blank on how they work.....do you adjust these or are they really floating?

as for the heat i feel your pain.....i adjusted the timing and carb on my 77 vette today.....93* outside and here i am crawling all over the engine, the next three hours i went to the local pool and submerged my self

 

[Brian]

Brendan, Going by your photos it appears to me you've already got installed the factory floaters. Part way through the 36 production year, Ford redesigned the brakes to allow a floating action. You appear to have these components, I doubt you'll find any difference fitting Teds items, as the principle is the same. I am not deriding Teds items, indeed they work well, particularly when fitted to early Fords. Just that you've already got what you are trying to acheive! Brian

 

[Steel 35]

That is a sweet looking puller!

 

[Kurt in NJ]

Here is a picture of factory floaters, from page 394 of service bulletins.

--this is a link to my brothers site with pic of the 37-38 factory floaters in an "A" backing plate-- http://home.comcast.net/~68c/brake/floaters.htm

 

[FlatheadTed]

When I developed these My primary objective was to improve braking on 33 and 34s .I found that they also fitted earlier v8s and model As . Sometime after I found that Ford in 37 had a self energising brake that relies on the springs of various strengths to give progressive braking and lets the shoe open first at the bottom .The primary deference in my set up is the wedge is narrower so you get more movement and it floats because the springs don't restrict movement .And on the Model As and 34s there is a special stamped plate that helps centre the shoes .They still need to be adjusted or though they do have a measure of self adjustment and don't need to be messed with as much , You do get extended lining life because they use all the shoe .