A problem with Sure-Stop brakes on early cars.

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: A problem with Sure-Stop brakes on early cars.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jon Allen on Friday, September 19, 2014 - 12:59 pm:

Last winter was "rear end winter" at my house. I put floating hubs, Sure-Stop brakes and a Ruckstell rear end in my '14 runabout. Since this is an "early" car with wood wheels and small drum rear brakes, the wheel and drum have to be removed from the car together as one unit. I managed to put the floating hubs and Sure-Stop drum and disk together and back onto the wheels. It was quite a job wrestling the now even heavier wheel back onto the car while trying to line-up the floating hub with the axle housing.
As I now considered putting the disk brake calipers on, I realized that with the calipers in place, it would be impossible to remove the wheel because the disk is now trapped between the calipers.
To remove a wheel it is now necessary to undo the calipers and drop them way down so that the wheel can be removed. IMHO it is so much nuisance to change a tire, as to be almost unserviceable.
I know some of you have dealt with this and just live with it as a consequence of having Sure-Stop brakes.
My solution, after several days of depression, was to get a set of McLaren wire wheels. This is DEFINATELY not the cheap way out, but it does solve the problem.
Here is a picture:

Anyway I just thought some of you might like to share your thoughts or solutions to this problem.
Regards,
Jon


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scott Elliott, Tigard, OR on Friday, September 19, 2014 - 01:09 pm:

I put flexible hoses to the caliper so when I pull the caliper to pull the wheel off I don't have to bleed the brakes AGAIN. I don't have safety hubs, but it is still a pain in the A$$.
It is worth it to have the disc brakes thou.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jon Allen on Friday, September 19, 2014 - 01:38 pm:

Yea, Scott, I really like the Sure-Stop brakes. They make it much less nerve-wracking to drive a Model T. But because of this serviceability problem on early cars, I thought a discussion of solutions would be helpful.
Maybe demountable rims?? I dunno...
Hey, I like your speedster!
Regards,
Jon


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Friday, September 19, 2014 - 02:14 pm:

Jon,

You don't change tires off the car if they are clinchers like yours. Much easier with the wheel on the car.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Friday, September 19, 2014 - 02:14 pm:

Royce has shown with pictures how to change a tire with the wheel in place. Actually it seems like it would be easier with the weight of the car keeping the tire in place (you start putting the tire on at the lowest point)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dale Peterson on Friday, September 19, 2014 - 03:55 pm:

Having changed tires both with wheel on and wheel off car, I will never again change tire without it being on the car!


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