front brakes replacement

Clem Clement

Clem Clement

Well-known member
I'm messing will several problems with my 39 peekup. Rivets are new shiny on the '39 so I'm replacing the shows. I don't understand the cam washer. It is quite loose on the repops, but tight on the old setup. I have put one side together using the instructions in the service bulletin. I don't know why the bolt -tabbed ends need to be parallel to start? The service bulletin talks about connected shoe ends together to mount the shoes. Mine seem to slip right in place?
 
the tabbed ends need to be parallel to start because the brings the brakes shoes in the most so the brake drum slides over them easier.
 
Having the two index points toward each other is just a start point. Then rotate the index points CW or CCW, as per instruction, will raise or lower the shoe. the idea is to have the arc of the shoe match exactly the arc of the brake drum. Doing this increases, to the maximum, the amount of brake shoe that contacts the drum when the brakes are applied.
 
Perhaps this info. on how to adjust the brakes will help explain "cam" action.
Also, make sure emergency brake is released. Turning the cam adjuster CW moves the brakes outward to tighten them up against the drum
Turning adjuster CCW does the opposite.
 

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No luck on the passenger side. After assembly and tightening the anchor bolts, the brake shoe is locked tight. 5 try's anc no change. cam seems in the right place.
 
This is a wild guess but. are the round brass inserts at the bottom holes of the shoes installed correctly?
With the drums off, do the shoes move when you turn the cam adjusters and the bottom adjusters?

It would be interesting to observe the differences in movement of the one side that you got "done" and the other side that is giving you trouble. What is different?
 
The cams are reversible. They fit loosely on the hole in the brake shoe metal. The previous cam fit fairly tight in the shoe big hole. The repops are much looser. I think there is enough slop to allow the cam to parciy fit in the wedge and then jam.
I'm thinking maybe I can assemble both shoes to their anchor bolts and then mount the anchors at the same time.
Tomorrow is another day.

Today we replaced the brake cross shaft on my 30 Model A. Someone had replace the bronze balls with roller bearings which were sloppy as best. Much better now.
 
Are lower anchor pin cam holes in the repop shoes correctly located? Some repops were made incorrectly. Original Ford on top, defective repop on bottom.

FWIW I think the brass cams should fit reasonably snug; just loose enough for the shoe to pivot, not sloppy like you describe.
 

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My tonite go was to clean all the white litho off the pin and study the assembly process. I could not assembly the shoes IAW the service bulletins. I hung the shoe down by the big hole and assembled the pin thru the cross bar and then thru the cam and the backing plate. If I wiggled the shoe I could get the cam in the shoe hole. then holding the anchor pin in I rotated the pin until the cam moved onto the pin shoulder angles and thru the backing plate. Tightening the lock nut locked the shoe tight, so I'm thinking the next try is to go back to the previous setup with the old shoe and see if things lock up...
 
Tonight I put the old front shoe back on the backing plate with the old cam. Shoe locks up just like the new one. I'm mystified. Clearly I have done the assembly wrong.

I did get the pumpkin and ****** fluids filled. I don't know how to fill the d/p to the proper level so I fill them till oil runs out and use my gloved finger to lower the level.

Clem
 
I guess I need a lesson on abbreviations and code words. What's a d/p?

Was it meant to be d/t (differential and transmission) ?

It is so very important to take before, during and after photos of things taken apart.
 
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differential and pumpkin. Yes I'm retired military: 23.5 years in the USAF. 4K+pilot hours; 1.5 tours in VN. 4 hurricane penetrations 5 nuc detonations and a few chilies in between.

One of my proudest moments was helping an unaccompanied wife and 2 babies get from Aviano, Italy back to Frankfort where they could follow their air-evacuated very sick 2- stripper back home. Somehow we had some spare chow on board.
 
Clem Clement said:
differential and pumpkin. Yes I'm retired military: 23.5 years in the USAF. 4K+pilot hours; 1.5 tours in VN. 4 hurricane penetrations 5 nuc detonations and a few chilies in between.

One of my proudest moments was helping an unaccompanied wife and 2 babies get from Aviano, Italy back to Frankfort where they could follow their air-evacuated very sick 2- stripper back home. Somehow we had some spare chow on board.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your service !
 
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