rear brake levers

wingski

wingski

Senior Member
Here I am again with another question. I’ve had several people look at the photos of my “29 and tell me that the rear brake levers should be pointed up instead of down. I have pulled the backing plate and I can’t figure out how to reverse those levers. The car was that way when I got it, and it looks stock other than that the two brake rods seem to interfer with one another.

Are you guys sure that the rear brake levers should be pointing up? Those rear brake levers are pinned with hammered ends so they won’t come out. And, I’m not sure that the brake expanders will even work correctly with the levers in the up position.

If I have to, I’ll send a picture, but right now I’m headed for a nap.

Mike
 
I haven't been inside my rear hubs in a while, so I won't give specific advise. Usually when something in the brakes is wrong top to bottom, it is because it is also wrong right to left.
 
The brake rods should pull to the center. If the rods are on the wrong ends of the center cross shaft it would push on the rear lever and still rotate it the right way.
Do you have the Mechanics Handbook Vol. 1?
 
If the brake shoes are not installed on the backing plates, The brake camshafts that the brake levers connect to will rotate 360 degrees .Also the backing plates can be installed on the wrong side . The end of the brake lever that connects to the brake rod should point to the sky untill connected . In other words all of the brake levers should point upwards . We need pics to see what you are working with .
 
Check out "value of car" thread.
Post #10, first picture. Shows the underside of Mike's car.
From this picture you will see what Mikes talking about.
The previous owner of this rare car either did the work himself, or hired it done.
Either way, Mike's going to make it right. Good Luck. Damn I wish I live closer. Jeff
 
Hey guys, I’m awake and rarin’to go. I just looked at page 463 of my Clymer Ford Model A Service Manual and Owner’s Handbook. What a confusing book! However, the picture of the driver’s side rear brake doesn’t look like mine. Mine looks upside-down, but the adjuster is still on the bottom. It would have been nice if Ford would have stamped an L or R on those baking plates, but things were not done like that back then.

Since, I’ve got everything off the driver’s side rear axle, I might as well do the same to the other side. Then, with your help, I’ll put the things back on correctly.

You know, I hate to say this, but my Polish wife has a lot of trouble with left and right, and I love her anyway. It’s almost like someone who previously owned this car had the same trouble. My god, they went to so much effort putting things together wrong. But, by god, they always did it the same way onthe other side as well.

Thanks for your help,

Mike
 
After viewing the pics on the other thread it appears that you can swap sides with the backing plates and install them with the levers pointing upward .
 
It looks like the backing plates are installed on the wrong sides.

So take the backing plate and the drums and swap them to the opposite sides.

Look at the brake actuating levers and they have markings LH or RH, and make sure that they are on the correct sides. The brake actuating arms are angled at the slot where the brake actuating rod fits into the arm this angle should be angled inboard toward the center of the car so the brake actuating rod angle matches the arm.

When the backing plate are correctly installed the brake adjustment cone should be at the rear of the backing plate.

hope this helps
 
Here is the picture of Mike's brake backing plate with the inverted levers....
 

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I sure hope you guys aren't B.S.ing me. Here are two photos. The photo on the left is of both backing plates with the driver's side on the right. The photo on the right is of the brake adjuster on the driver's side backing plate. If you look closely, you'll see that the adjuster cam also has stops in it. It will only turn so far before coming up against the stops. There is no way I can turn either of those levers 180 degrees. If I knock that pin/rivet out of the lever on the cam shaft and rotate them 180 degres it's going to put those levers pointing up but toward the back of the car. I don't think that's correct, but who knows?

Mike
 

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The sliding pin in the acutator will come out when the shoes are off, and you can rotate the arm where it belongs, then reinstall the floating pin.
 
Don't pull the levers off just take the shoes loose and turn the lever up and turn the (slide?) part over.

Posted that at same time. I agree
 
Yes, the lever should be up and slanted towards the rear. Also make sure the cam is set correctly to spread the shoes when the lever is pulled forward. I'll post a picture if I find it. Just found my picture of the backside.
 

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The hardest part of the rear brake job is putting the cotter pin in the emergency brake actuator lever. The way Wingski's is set up would make that pin a whole lot easier - but still wrong!! Good luck, Mike.
Marty
 
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