My 26 speedster has 55 Chevy drum brakes on the rear. (My husband built the car, but recently died). If I get in a pinch - I use the hand brake to stop. The brakes were serviced by a knowledgeable Chevy dealer and they said they are fine. Is there info out there about adding disc fronts and/or converting the rear 55 Chevy drums to discs? Tnx for any info. lyn neale
Lyn -- Texas T Parts has a very nice disc brake setup for the rear of Model T's.
http://www.texastparts.com/
Click on "Safety" at the left, then "Sure-Stop Brakes".
Welcome to the Forum, Lyn. Sorry about your husband.
I thought maybe you were using a nickname for your location until I looked on google map. We've been to SJ Bautista several times, and our older son used to live in Marina.
Those Chevy drum brakes can give you all the stopping you'll ever get with rear only brakes.
If they don't lock the wheels in a firm stop, then maybe the master cylinder diameter is too large or the lever arm is too long. People often make that mistake. Does it take a lot of pedal effort to stop fast?
Front brakes are the best improvement you can make to a T, but not many people do it, for lots of reasons. And they don't have to be discs.
We'd like to see pix of your car. You may need instructions on how to resize the pix to less than 200K. Most people do, and some still haven't done it.
rdr
Have been offline for a bit and late in thanking you two for info. The speedster has 5.25-21 rear tires and smaller fronts, weighs 1250 lbs, does take leg power to stop and sometimes hops down the road with tires stopped but not the car until use of handbrake is made. Tnx for info on Texas T, and any suggestions on what to put on the front in lieu of discs? Here is pix of car, made the file < 200, but don't know if that makes the physical viewing size small. lyn and enjoy tomorrow the 4th of July.
Sry about physical size of pix. Need read more of Photoshop. lyn - 7/3/12 Happy 4th to you.
Linda Simmon Neale:
Thats one nice looking speedster.
Lyn,
You said your brakes stop the wheels. That's the best any brake can do. I'd go out in the country somewhere and practice until you and the car are one! Try to stop applying pressure right before it locks up. It will not feel like a modern car. If it continually wants to hop when stopping, I'd check the number of leaves in the rear spring--it may be too stiff. Tires sometime get very hard as they get old. If it didn't do it when your husband drove it with you in there and it does it now with you in there alone, you can add more weight or soften the suspension. You've probably seen semi trucks lock up and hop the trailer wheels. That usually don't happen when its loaded to the max. Good luck.
Tnx. My husband built it he started with a Wippett radiator shell and that determined the rest of the car design. (The spelling of Wippett might be wrong) He made the wood sub frame, steering wheel, wood dash, the frame, gas tank, rolled the sheet metal, made brackets, the louvre die, punched the louvres, assembled it and painted it - by himself - but having access to tools and space. It took him 4 years. It has two Stromberg 81s, 7-1/2 to 1 compression and is a delight to drive, with the exception of stopping. I do need some help there. Thanks again for your comment. lyn
Mike: Thanks for your message. There was a crossing of information just then. On the brakes, I have driven the car about 5000 miles and pretty much have a feel for it's habits. The locking up happened twice, once in rain when i wanted to know what the brakes would do on wet pavement in pouring rain, and the other time when coming around a corner and having stalled traffic. Normally I drive so defensively that there is no problem, but if I can make easier to brake, therefore safer, it sure would be great. Am considering driving it cross country (am in CA and would drive to NY) and back and better brakes would be nice. Do you have any suggestions for front wheel brakes? tnx lyn
Mike: More on the car, it has 6 leaf springs on rear and 5 on front, i know my husband did remove one of the leaves early on. The car was started 10 years ago yesterday. The tires have 12,000 miles on them and will be replaced soon. Am running 32# on fronts and 40# on rears as recommended by Coker. Have considered experimenting with different pressures to see if braking would be altered, by have not yet. lyn
Lyn,
Front brakes are not easy. The axle has to be affixed to the car well enough to not separate from the car when the brakes are applied. Someone like Ralph Ricks that actually uses front brakes needs to look at your car and tell you what all would be necessary. There's a lot more to it than bolting on rotors and calipers, but, I'm sure you can find someone in CA that can do it for you correctly.
Lyn -- That's a beautiful speedster! You do look right at home and happy behind the wheel.
I see from the pics that your hubby adapted later steering to the car. That's a big plus when you're going to drive in modern traffic, especially at speeds above what the Model T was designed for. As Mike B. mentioned, the front axle and suspension need to be beefed up to take the stresses which front brakes will add to the mix. The lightweight Model T front end was adequate for its intended use, but adding braking to the front changes a lot of things. Since you are on the left coast, you are in the heart of hot-rod-dom, so there will be plenty of folks nearby who are willing and able to help you with the particulars.
Your plan to drive coast-to-coast is an ambitious one in any vehicle, and it should be a real hoot in your speedster. But if the vehicle is in good condition, there is no reason why you couldn't do it. Good steering and brakes will make the trip much safer, therefore more enjoyable. Planning the route will be a job in itself, since you'll want to avoid the interstate highways.
Continue to ask questions here as they come to you, and I'm sure you will get plenty of answers and advice. (Some of it will even be correct. )
Best of luck to you on your trip; please keep us posted on your progress.
I recognize that car.
I did not know George had died. Sorry to hear that.
I sold him the rear axle innards. I think he told me it has a '37 or '39 Chevy transmission?
Anyway, I would lower all the tire pressures to 27 lbs. maybe 25 in front.
With too much air pressure tires tend to bounce like a basketball if the car does not have shock absorbers.
Even a model A with that size tire, and shocks, only gets 35 lbs.
I have hydraulics on the rear of my '26 touring and had to push real hard in a quick stop so after 10 years I changed the position on the brake pedal where the master cylinder push rod attaches. I moved it 1/2" closer to the pedal pivot point. Now it is like power brakes, of coarse it doesn't stop any better it just takes less effort.
Appears to have Hartfords, at least on the front.
Nice ride Linda - I'm sorta fond of the Whippet radiator also as that was all I started with - see my profile photo.
Lyn,
I checked the springs on my speedsters today and found 5 and 5 on the one with no body and 7 and 6 on the one with a home made steel boattail body and extended frame (to lower the rear by putting the springs behind the differential while maintaining the correct wheelbase). I think Aaron hit it with the high air pressure. I have 21 inch tires on both mine and run 28 pounds.
Linda
I am working to produce a limited run of McNerny front brakes. These were offered in the T era and do not require any welding.
As Mike has alluded to there are issues to deal with. It appears that your car has a "split" wishbone installation, but a "doubler" of the wishbone is desirable. It is not too tough to do. I am unclear as to whether you have hydraulic brakes on the back or not. I have played around with some other front brakes as well on the T.
While colorful paint jobs are not my first choice when it comes to Model Ts, what you have surely is an exceptionally sweet Speedster, Linda. It gives testimony to your husband's talent and insight and I'm glad you use it the way it was intended to be used.
Thanks for all the info. I have 5 acres of property, a 1951 and 1977 tractor and a Model A, all of which require care and attention to perform, therefore not so much time to reply to the messages. Thanks to all and, Aaron, the car does have a 39 Chevy tranny and also 39' Chevy steering. The innards for the rear you sold George are still in it. He did change the ratios. The brakes are hydraulic and the car is great to drive. I did tow it to Denver and drove 1200 miles solo so know the work involved, but it is worth it to make that kind of trip. A very fabulous adventure!! Will definitely lower the tire pressure and see if that helps. I plan on driving it this weekend so will get a chance to see what happens. On the front discs, will check with others that have them and see what they did.
This message may seem quite disjointed, but am responding to all those replies received.