Rearward Braking

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Rearward Braking
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carl Klem on Wednesday, July 02, 2014 - 10:34 am:

Howdy folks,
I am a couple of years into T driving, and recently I had my first experience of the RMB's not holding whilst stopped on an uphill grade :-(
I did manage to hold it with foot jammed down and Parking Brake pulled, but the feeling of being on the edge of safety is not one I like.
I know there are numerous forum entries on brakes, etc., but I still have not figured out the best solution, if there is one (short of an anchor).
I love driving my T and I can accept the limitations, but, this one kind of scares me.
Thoughts?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Wednesday, July 02, 2014 - 10:48 am:

I'm not a good enough searcher to find it, but I seem to remember reading that Rockies don't hold backwards and that original AC brakes work in both directions. Maybe somebody with actual experience can tell us about that.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Zibell on Wednesday, July 02, 2014 - 10:58 am:

Carl,

This is the method Bill Robinson showed me. First, pull the pins for the Rocky brake rods at the equalizer. Adjust the Ford brake band so you can just put an index finger between the pedal and upper floorboard fully depressed. Next fully tighten the Rocky Band adjuster at the rear wheel until the band is tight. Next, adjust the Rocky pull rods so you can just get the pins back in at the equalizer. Go back to the Rocky band adjuster and loosen 2 full turns. Drive car without using brakes and check to see if drum is hot. If hot, loosen half run at a time until it stays cool.

Brakes still won't be great on an up hill hold, but it will be the best you can get with Rockys. Hand brake is always an option to keep in mind with Rocks in that situation. Another reason to keep the hand brake in working order.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Wednesday, July 02, 2014 - 11:02 am:

Carl

Just wondering if your transmission brake is adjusted too to come on after the RM brakes engage.

Set that way the RM won't hold my T backing out the down ramp of my trailer, but a full press of the brake pedal will engage the transmission brake with its Kevlar band tight on the drum.

No scary moments on hill top stops, if the brake is pressed in fully. Normal T stops are with the throttle closed and apply the brake pedal lightly as the RM will come on early, and 1/2 pedal will lock the wheels with the RM. Full depressed pedal locks the trans brake along with the RM.

Plus the emergency/parking brakes are engaged along with the RM when pulling back on the clutch lever in parking, due to the sliding linkage bar, so hill top parking is safe too. But leaving the T un-manned with parking on any incline, a wheel chock is left behind the driver's wheel, for complete safety if someone pushes the lever or something.




Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Thursday, July 03, 2014 - 02:23 pm:

I can confirm that AC brakes hold just as well in reverse as in forward. However, because they use the stock small brake drum instead of the larger drum that comes with the Rocky Mountain brakes, the overall forward braking power is less with AC brakes than Rocky Mountain.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chester W. Lowery TN on Thursday, July 03, 2014 - 03:10 pm:

Carl, as ugly as they may be...and I don't disagree....I chose to install the disc brakes on my 26 tudor. I feel very comfortable that I can stop now, backwards and forwards and my wife is not screaming everytime a traffic light turns yellow...I now stop at them....This was a in-depth discussion on the forum last month and I agreed with most all that members had to say about disc brakes, but personally I like them along with all the other modifications I made to mine,,,, And if you ever need to stop they will.....but like some others say, you should never have problems stopping if you know the proper way to drive and keep things adjusted properly...Guess I never could get use to the sudden stops that in-town driving gave me....I didn't mind out in the country.....But, disc are not attractive on a T at all.....But I like mine....Chet


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donald Conklin on Thursday, July 03, 2014 - 03:58 pm:

I found that adding a cable on each side between the
parking brake arms on the cross shaft and the actuating arms on the RM brakes allowes the parking brake to be set much firmer which helps in up hill holding power.
This arrangement is not effected by the flexing of the equalizer assembly and has better leverage (mechanical advantage). The cables have turn buckles for adjustment and are tied off to the RM brake rods near the back so as to clear the running board brackets.

This applies to pre 1926.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Green - So Cal on Thursday, July 03, 2014 - 04:07 pm:

Mr. Conklin:

If possible, could you please post a picture of your cable setup you describe above?

Thanks!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Seth from NC on Thursday, July 03, 2014 - 05:29 pm:

I have AC brakes and they work excellently in either direction. They may not have as much braking power going forward compared to Rocky Mountains, but in normal Model T driving a panic stop would be the only place you can tell the difference. I try to drive like I have no brakes at all so I do all of my decelerating with the throttle. Brakes just hold me still from rolling or may be gently applied occasionally. I specifically chose my ACs because not as many folks have them and because they work well either way.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Val Soupios on Thursday, July 03, 2014 - 09:09 pm:

I have both AC and RM brakes on a few of my cars. They each have their pros and cons but I prefer the self actuating feature of the RM brakes and adjust the Ford brakes to go on with a little bit of additional pressure on the pedal to deal with the reverse issue. It takes a bit of tinkering to get the adjustment correct but the results are worth it. AC brakes are fine on the runabout but on the heavier cars you need the large drum for decent stopping power.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donald Conklin on Thursday, July 03, 2014 - 11:24 pm:

Mike, I am currently about 600 miles away from my T. When I get back home next week I'll attempt some pictures.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carl Klem on Friday, July 04, 2014 - 12:46 am:

Thank you for the RMB advice and adjustment procedures.
That will be next on my " T 2 Do " list.
Carl


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Friday, July 04, 2014 - 12:57 am:

Don't the original Rocky Mtn brakes work for keeping you from rolling backwards on a steep hill unlike the modern reproductions?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Friday, July 04, 2014 - 11:14 am:

The original RM's had an anchor point 180 degrees from the lever like the AC's and most other outside setups. This allowed them to be self energizing in both directions.
Actually the original RM's had the lever in the rear and the anchor in the front and were cable activated like the AC's. At some point they reversed that and put the lever in the front, more in line with what was standard practice for outside brakes and changed to rods instead of cable.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Friday, July 04, 2014 - 11:35 pm:

Thanks Mark!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Thomas Mullin on Saturday, July 05, 2014 - 10:32 am:

Any where to get Bennett Brakes? I understand they brake in both directions, too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Saturday, July 05, 2014 - 01:23 pm:

I just went out and looked at what I thought were RM's. These are older reproductions and the mounting bracket is marked AC. The mounting brackets are the same as in the above photos. Part of the problem of this type of mounting is that the band only pulls in one way because they are anchored at the one end of the bracket. This is good for going forward because it helps with the self energizing and clamping effect of the shoe and brings more lining in contact with the drum for more braking force. With an anchor point at 180 to the lever and having the lever float it pulls both shoes down into contact with the drum and gives self energizing braking in both direction of travel. The anchor point is not locked, there is some movement in both directions, it's a floating anchor.
I hope this makes sense.
If you are asking about the small drum Bennett brakes, they are about the same as the old or new Ac's.
http://modelt.org/discus/messages/2/27217.html?1291321249


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Schedler, Sacramento on Saturday, July 05, 2014 - 02:50 pm:

With disc brakes there is no doubt. U step on the pedal and they hold!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Saturday, July 05, 2014 - 03:01 pm:

Hal I have a question. How do you set the parking brakes? Is the rotor welded to the original brake type drum? Or do they use a line block to hold the brakes on?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Eubanks, Powell, TN on Saturday, July 05, 2014 - 05:53 pm:

Why not keep you foot on the low gear pedal and use it when you are rolling back to stop?


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