Repairing brake roller tracks

[wrndln]

I have a question on repairing/replacing brake roller tracks. I have a picture of the two tracks I removed from my backing plates below. I know I could very easily build up the track wear with weld and dress them down to be just like they were originally. My concern is how the weld would wear (last). I don't plan to really drive the car a lot (not a daily driver car). Part suppliers have reproduction tracks with rivets for about $20 that say they are hardened. I typically like to use original Ford parts that I usually have to repair, but I know they fit and look right since they are original parts. Would I be OK to weld them up and would they last a long time? Is there a simple way to harden them? Any help or experiences with this would be appreciated.

 

[Glenn C.]

In my opinion, I don't think it would be a good idea to harden the tracks, as you may need to bend the ear of the track up or down to centralize the brake shoes. Go ahead and weld the tracks as you wish, but slow quench the track while it is hot in a can of zeolite or zonolite, to allow the track to cool as slow as possible. This will retain the strength.

 

[pat in Santa Cruz]

Brattons hardened tracks work very well. People welded the originals up for years, usually in place and on the car as removing and re-installing are more time consuming. But since yours are out already, I would install new ones. They'll last longer.

 

[Moose]

Repaired my 30 tudor roller tracks by using a small Dremel wire wheel to clean them up. Welded the tops using a Lincoln Mig welder. Dressed the front portion flat with the Dremel and a small cutoff wheel. Laid a Craftsmen steel 1" X 12" ruler from their combination square up against the bottom of the spring posts so the bottom of the ruler will be 1" from the posts. Scribe a line on the front dressed flats of the roller tracks. Use the Dremel cutoff wheel (1") and cut them flush to the scribed line.
A small file to correct any little burrs. Did this about 7 years ago. Just pulled drums to sand the linings and the roller tracks still look good.
Put a little grease on the roller pin portion.

Moose WMBG VA