I am trying to see what I still need to put the brakes together for my car. I have a 26/27 setup, and was wondering if anyone had a good pic of the brake shoe on the backing plate so I could see what I need. I am unfamiliar with this setup.
I have a set of original band, but they should probably get new linings as one looks a bit glazed and the other is oil soaked. Only one band has a spring on it. Other than that, not sure as to what I need.
Also, could you potentially machine the brake surface of the drum? One I have appears ok, albeit has some rust pitting in the shoe surface--but I would leave it alone, the other, has some markings in it--almost maybe like old stuck material, I figured a very very light cut across it would help clean it up.
Other than that, I also know I need new wheel hub bolts as I am changing from small to large drum.
Any pics, suggestions, or help would be grateful.
Generally a bad idea to have T drums turned. They tend to be a bit thin in the first place and machine shops have a way of thinking it should be like a modern car. A little hand sanding can take the sharpness off the pitting or scoring. Beyond that. Run them. Turning them can make them too weak too fast.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Wayne, Thanks for your reply. Yes, I do understand the thin nature of the T drums. I am very friendly with my machinest and was going to stand there and wait for them. I know how to run a drum/rotor cutter myself, but this time its not in a shop I work in. That's why I asked about a very lite cut---just enough for the tip of the blade to hit the surface---not a dig in like a modern drum.
What do I need to attach all these parts onto my backing plate? I saw a poor angle picture and it looked as if the shoe was almost hanging in mid air, while the end with the spring on it was going onto the emergency brake lever/cam. What holds the shoe onto the backing plate? I see Langs sells a bolt for the small drum shoe. I guess this is what happens when you buy a box 'o parts.
There are four tabs on the backing plate clamping the one piece brake shoe in place. Together with the brake cam and the spring, the shoe is held to the backing plate until the brake drum comes in place. 26/27 drums are plentiful - if you have wood wheels you should be able to find better ones cheaply. 6 hole drums can be redrilled for 5 hole wire wheels. Repro drums of both types are also available. They're already on the thin side when new so turning isn't a good idea at all IMHO, not even the tip of the blade hitting the surface.
I've seen one style tabs pressed from the backing plate material and another style separate tabs, riveted to the backing plate. Repro backing plates are available just as tabs for riveting (many tabs are damaged on axles you find nowadays)
Here are a couple of older threads with pictures of 26/27 emergency brake shoes in place on the backing plate:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/95972.html?1245719288
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/93302.html?1243683765
Roger, Thank you for the links. I tried searching, but I really stink at getting key words and such just right. Now I see exactly how its supposed to go together. Thank you both.
The drums I will see about getting different ones. I guess I didn't really look at them close when I picked them up from someone, In fact I though his prices were fair at the time, now looking around I may have paid top dollar for what I got and only ended up with a set of good shoe cores. Oh well, live and learn.
You may have to shorten your brake rods too if you're converting over from the small drums. Did your brake parts (backing plates) include the cams and levers too? The levers are the same but the cams are left and right. Check that the cams rotate but aren't sloppy in the bores.
Ken, Thanks for the heads up on the brake rods.
I bought a whole 26/27 axle that we are rebuilding as a club effort for me. The rear does have the right and original levers and cams, they are sloppy which is why I will be ordering new bushings for them.
I just laid down $600 for the rear rebuild parts so I am gathering my list for the brake parts for when I get some spare cash again. I told the club members that I did not want to have to touch the rear again---or at least for a long time, so I bought whatever it needed.
I think the repro backing plates come with new tabs already in.