Flathead Ted's floaters

FlatheadTed said:
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 .
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thks its beginning to make some sense to me now.....so the floaters you designed are an improved version over the stock ones i have on my 37 and perhaps need less adjustment over time? thks bob
 
On a Model A to 1934 the shoes ride on a track by way of a pin at the bottom of this track develops a groove in it that the shoe pin sits in and restricts moment ,I developed the lower centring plate (stamping ) that captures the rollers so the rollers can roll down and back and the shoes are held in a centred position while at rest . by joining the shoes together at the wedge end the shoes can become under braking one completed circle ,rather than just one end of the two shoes opening .It also floats because we remove the top spring.To remove the spring is alien to most people but its critical to its function.
 
Ted you really need to make the threaded part about an 1/8 or even a 1/16 longer. It's hard to get the part to thread through using needle nose pliers on the round end that's in the housing. I may not be explaining it right but in your video where you use needle nose pliers, if the part was longer you could just use a wrench on the square end.
 
Yes fair comment I had been considering that,I had lengthened them in the past even after the Video but I will give it a little more .There will be a new web site out soon with some new developments that hopefully will go through the dealers Ted
 
Thanks for the information Ted.
Will there be a way of ordering multiple sets on the new website without ordering multiple postage? I need to buy three or four sets delivered to the UK.
 
I thought I would clarify ,the spring is 91A2035 on the previous post ,My son is addressing the web site problem now .
 
FlatheadTed said:
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 .
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Ted: With the various comments starting at the beginning on this subject thread, I'm still a little confused as to whether your floaters would be an improvement on my original 37 factory brakes. Would you please clarify for my thick head? I bought floaters many years ago for my Model A, but took it out of service before installing them. I've heard they are a real asset for Model A & early V8. But, my current project is 37.
 
rlh, Ted's floaters are as good as it gets for the early Fords, but the '37-'38 can use a star adjuster, no wedge at all. There is no friction to bind up a star adjuster as there is with a wedge. the first star adjuster on Fords came in 1949, but the concept is adaptable to the cable brakes of '37-'38.
 
Out of all the early brakes 37/38 are the best if set up properly .Here are a couple of Testimonials first one is a 37 second one Model A

,Hello Ted, after re-adjustments and driving the car about 10-20 miles and then fine tuning the adjustment I am very pleased with the results and would recommend your product very highly. When you start your 37 project you will find the angles, petals, and springs are a little different, if I can be of any assistance to you please let me know, also I would like to know more about the old cars in your country as to how they got there , when and about how many and how are they used for exp. Show cars daily drivers, also if I could be of any help to any of your customers feel free to give them my email. Again thanks. Coot

n Reply to: Re: Brake Floaters....Ted's and A-2051-F posted by Chris North Hills/Pine Grove, CA from cache-ntc-aa07.proxy.aol.com (207.200.116.11) on Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 10:20PM :

Just finished new cast drums and ted flotters today and first trip out through my passenger in the windshield, throw the sniders out and put the whole set in. Best brakes I ever had.
 
If you follow my instructions with my kit available from Macs you will get better brakes
rlh37ford said:
Ted: With the various comments starting at the beginning on this subject thread, I'm still a little confused as to whether your floaters would be an improvement on my original 37 factory brakes. Would you please clarify for my thick head? I bought floaters many years ago for my Model A, but took it out of service before installing them. I've heard they are a real asset for Model A & early V8. But, my current project is 37.
Click to expand...
 
ford38v8 said:
rlh, Ted's floaters are as good as it gets for the early Fords, but the '37-'38 can use a star adjuster, no wedge at all. There is no friction to bind up a star adjuster as there is with a wedge. the first star adjuster on Fords came in 1949, but the concept is adaptable to the cable brakes of '37-'38.
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Alan: Your earlier post indicates "Ted's floaters are as good as it gets for the early Fords" & that "the '37-'38 can use a star adjuster, no wedge at all. ------- the concept is adaptable to the cable brakes of '37-'38." By the 1st. part of you comment can I assume you mean Ted's floaters are great thru. '36 but not needed to improve '37-'38? Also, it would be helpful it you could send me ref. text and photos showing how the star adjuster adaptation is accomplished for '37-'38. I Would appreciate you're writing me at rlhate@ptd.net. Many thanks, Dick.
 
Brendan: did you get them together yet? I am stuck for a spell with a flat good thing it happend in the garage! I put it on stands today set the park brake and took all four wheels off and they held in the air with just the park brake. :D Thanks Ted
 
no, i am rebuilding the front end also. i have finally got all the parts in yesterday.plus i have been working allot. if all goes well the truck will be on the road next Sunday
 
Brendan, I think your pu truck will be so happy with that new Texas gear shift knob that it will run and stop so much better than it ever did before :D LOL
 
well today i finely got the truck on the road, drove it around the neighborhood . it seems like it turned out good. i put in new kingpins bushings tie-rod ends and spring shackles. also i took the front spring apart and cleaned it up so it will move.i still have to readjust the brakes and check the toe-in i think the old junker is happy and i am happy!
 
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