Full brake job...shop?

Wilbur

Wilbur

Senior Member
Can you guys recommend a shop that would do a full brake restoration on my 29? I am located near Atlantic City, NJ and even though l consider myself quite a capable mechanic, l would rather trust this task to someone with years of experience. Any comments on Schalm's Babbitted Bearings in Lancaster, Pa? What would be a normal cost on a car that is currently driven, figuring on new drums, etc?
 
I can't help with the price, but I do know it's not cheap to do a complete brake job. Once you get over the sticker shock :eek: you'll feel much better knowing you have a very safe car and the price for the brakes is much cheaper than the accident you might have had due to poor brakes.:)
 
Wilbur, Ora at Schwalms will do you a good job, and unfortuately I do not know of anyone close to you however I feel sure there is someone.

Since I am not competing for your business, let me offer some insight. There is no such thing as normal cost. Parts & Labor for everything replaced can easily top $3,000.00 but that does not include "cosmetic restoration". For example, anyone can strip the brake housing (backing) plates but how will they be repainted? Is someone going to bodywork them prior to paint, -or just paint them with Krylon from a spray can?

Also, rear brakes can get expensive if the rear hub bearing races on the axle housings are worn. When this is the case, it requires the rear axle assembly to be taken apart where the axle housings can be machined. If the front radius rod (Wishbone) ball is worn, that needs to be repaired to have good quality brakes. Therefore brake repair is not just limited to the brake components. Also, what happens if your hubs have had poor repair work in the past like hub bolts welded or bearing races staked in??

I always tell folks that brakes are expensive to repair correctly but they are a great investment as they will last for years. I also tell my customers their repaired brakes should be able to withstand nine successive & quick 40mph-to-0mph panic stops, and on the 10th stop be able to slide all four wheels. If they don't, then they were not correctly repaired.
 
Thanks, Tom and Brent. Three grand is about what l was thinking, after adding up the parts and then a guess as to how much labor is involved. This is a car that l have only had since November and have already put over 2000 miles on. My Model T gets driven about 5000 a year, so having these old girls in tip-top shape is important to me.
 
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