MTFCA Forum

Large drum rear brake setup
Does the pivot arm go up or down when you put the bands on. First one I’ve ever built and getting ready to bolt the hubs up so I can get some wheels on the ground.

up
like your forearm when your scratching your head

Thank you sir

This should get a rise out of everyone. I think wood wheels are 1 way and wire opposite. I've discussed this off forum and others agree.Wood up wire down.

The levers on the backing plate were upright from 1908 to 1927, don't matter what kind of wheel was installed. Without backup evidence such as letters or photographs from Ford production line from the 1926/27 era, that opinion only serves to confuse the issue and question?

directing the levers down on wire wheels will do a good job if your aim is to have brake rods/cables criss-crossing parking brake rods and hang low enough to snag weeds and stray cats

Photo courtesy of Dan Treace:

It sure is nice to see someone with outside brakes using the correct cable set up!

I start to tighten hub nuts and things get real tight. rebuilt differential, not by me. OEM axles. Can the hub taper be drawing up to bind on the sides of the brake shoes?
Is this the purpose of the taper shims I see the vendors sell? This would set the hub back a smidge towards the outside?

Yes that is what the shims are for.
Are the shoes in the clips on the backing plate? There are several ether press in or riveted on clips, around the edge of the plate that the shoe needs to sit in not on. Or are the drums binding on the backing plates?
How do they fit without the shoes in place?
What type caps do you have installed on the ends of the axle tube? It could be binding up there if not installed all the way.
Is this one or both sides? If just one side, could be when the rear end was rebuilt the whole assembly was shifted to one side.
Do both axles stick out the same amount?
Could have worn hub that is allowing it to go on too far.

Good info
Thanks
Only one side I think
I didn’t get a chance to pull it back apart yesterday
Brake shoes are seated in clips and seam to pivot with the arms freely.
One thing you hit on, I bobbed off the axle tubes to add Dan’s safety hubs. Could be binding on that with a combination of axle length. I will tear back down and check clearances this weekend. I have one new hub and one old on the setup

I was going to ask about safety hubs, could be one end was not bobbed enough. Worth checking out.

I have a good stock hub and drum which I will swap out . That will tell the tale