1914 small drum brakes

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: 1914 small drum brakes
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Wilkins, Oregon on Friday, December 20, 2013 - 05:07 pm:

Time to do the small drum brakes on the 1914. I have several of the steel brake shoes but can't find any linings. They look pretty week and not worth messing with. So cast iron lined shoes. I have read of problems with them also. Who would be the best vender that people have had the least problems with the shoes fitting? Any surprises i may encounter? I only want to buy these once.
Thanks Bill


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By keith g barrier on Friday, December 20, 2013 - 05:16 pm:

The new lined shoes are much better than the ones offered a few years ago, they will require some minor fitting but in my opinion they are worth it. Please remember they will not take the place of the drum brake for stopping but will give a much better parking brake with the small drum. Drive as if you have NO brakes and you will be ok. Rockymtn. or other such accessory brakes of course are much better but not always within our means. KGB


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Danuser on Friday, December 20, 2013 - 05:21 pm:

Bill I have them in stock danuser88@ktis.net


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Seth from NC on Friday, December 20, 2013 - 05:29 pm:

Hey Bill - the one piece lined brake shoes that Snyders sells are excellent. I can snatch the E-brake while driving and it will lock the rear wheels up. The only issue I had with them was that the flat seats above and below the cam, what the cam actually touches to actuate the shoes, are kind of big flat squares - the outside edge towards the axle was catching the hub nuts when I tightened the wheel all the way down. I just took a grinder to it and rounded that corner and everything was perfect. It didn't come close to removing any of the surface area the cam was touching. They may be cast a touch large right there or it may just be my hubs are worn a little. Would definitely recommend them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Friday, December 20, 2013 - 05:39 pm:

The original unlined cast iron shoes work better than you might imagine so long as there is no grease in the drum from leaking seals.

The lined shoes are a SLIGHT improvement. All of them from any vendor come from the same maker. They need to be filed or ground to fit properly, about 5 minutes each.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Friday, December 20, 2013 - 07:21 pm:

1. The cast iron NON lined shoes work great for a parking brake only. They can only be used for an emergency stop a few times before they wear down so far (shoe and drum both) that they become nearly useless. That is one of the big reasons model Ts have such a reputation for having NO brakes.

2. Up until about a year ago, all the cast iron lined shoes available from all the T parts suppliers were the same. They were a little rough. Some people had a lot of trouble getting them to fit and work. I installed several sets, and never had much trouble getting them to work well.
Now there is a better option that I hear fit much better. But I have yet to own a set.

3. IMPORTANT! To work properly, adjustment is critical. All the cam levers and handle levers must be as near straight up/down as you can get them at the moment the wheel locks (that is the short version).

4. For '20s Ts, I like good after-market outside brakes. They stop a bit better, and wear a lot longer. For brass era cars, I personally prefer to keep them closer to the brass era. Not many (some) after-market outside brakes were available for Ts before 1919.

5. The inside bent band lined brakes are NOT good. A few heavier bent steel lined brakes are okay. Cast iron lined brakes are best (the shoes being ridged makes a big difference on how much pressure you can force the shoes to apply to the drum). I have driven a couple cars with well adjusted cast iron lined inside shoe brakes. I use the hand brake a lot! I can lock the wheels if I want to (even the center-door sedan). I had good control over my braking and could panic-stop without locking the wheels. Even the center-door sedan which I drove a lot for the couple years I toured with it, I never had to re-adjust the brakes. Other people have commented that they like to use the hand brake as I do because it is much easier to reline the shoes and adjust them than it is to change the bands in the transmission.

My thoughts, experience, and opinions.
Drive carefully, and enjoy the Christmas holidays! W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Saturday, December 21, 2013 - 10:40 am:

As posted all the big boys carry the one piece lined set and their a huge improvement over the two piece formerly offered. If you're in the habit of grabbing the e-brake handle to stop I'd surely go with lined.


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