Brake rods - straight or wavy?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Brake rods - straight or wavy?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Sole - Castelldefels (Spain) on Sunday, December 21, 2014 - 06:00 pm:

I thought I read somewhere that the emergency brake rods are supposed to be straight. Mine are kind of bent and don't seem to have much straight section to them.

Here's a view from above:



And here's a view from the side:



The emergency brake works OK, aside from needing new linings, but the rods have always seemed to kind of scrape through the brackets on the wishbone.

Is this the way they're supposed to be?

How far from the end of the wishbone should the brackets be placed?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Sole - Castelldefels (Spain) on Sunday, December 21, 2014 - 06:01 pm:

BTW, this is for a 1927 Runabout.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Sunday, December 21, 2014 - 06:04 pm:

Straight. Over the years they get bent from the brake handle pushing back on them when pushing the lever forward.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Sunday, December 21, 2014 - 07:22 pm:

People also grab on them and pull themselves around while under the car. There are a hundred things that can happen to make them bent. But they are supposed to be straight for the '26/'27. Earlier ones should be straight EXCEPT for the offset "kick" to clear the radius rod.
Drive carefully, and do enjoy the holidays! W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Sunday, December 21, 2014 - 08:20 pm:

If they get bent from pushing the brake lever forward, they might be adjusted too long. When the brake lever is all the way forward, the lever at the brake backing plate should be all the way back and the clevis pin will just slip right in without pushing the rod toward the back. Shortening the rod would tighten the brake. But a rod too long will just push the parking brake lever back and could cause the clutch to become stuck in the neutral position when you shift from low to high.

First straighten out the rods. There should only be a bend at the very back where it is connected to the arm on the backing plate. That bend looks correct in your picture. After you have the rods straightened, jack up both rear wheels and connect the rods at the rear. Then with the parking brake hand lever all the way forward, adjust the length of the rods so that the clevis pin can be installed without either pushing back and bending the rods or pulling forward which would apply the brake. After you get both rods installed and adjusted, pull the parking brake lever back until it begins to stop the rear wheels. If you find one wheel stops before the other, loosen 1/2 turn the one which is tight. Check again. Loosen 1/2 turn at a time until you get both to stop at the same position of the parking brake lever When you get both wheels to stop at the same position of the lever, you have it right. The bracket should be installed at the point where the rod crosses the radius rod. In that position, the rod will not bend when it passes through the bracket. Final test. Run your car on a straight road and apply the parking brake. It should not pull to one side, but stop in a straight line.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Sunday, December 21, 2014 - 09:12 pm:

Lets get 'em straight Eric!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roar Sand on Sunday, December 21, 2014 - 10:30 pm:

My '26 Touring has the "kick" to clear the radius rods. The inspector at the DMV gave me a hard time, thinking I had put the kinks in to adjust the brakes. We had to put it on the hoist so he could sight them and convince himself they actually would rub if they were straight.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Sole - Castelldefels (Spain) on Monday, December 22, 2014 - 01:50 am:

Ok guys, thanks for setting me "straight".

Wayne, I remember the rods were always bent around from the time I've known this car. I have to admit that I have also pulled myself around under the car more than once by grabbing the brake rods. Never occurred to me that they would bend, they seemed to be such a strong component.

Now, for the straightening. I'm thinking aluminum jaws in the vise to hold the rod while bending it straight (except for the angle at the rear fork), but so many ingenious ways of doing things appear on this forum that I can't help but put it our there to you all - what's the best way to straighten a brake rod?


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