Woven vs molded linings for cast iron drums

[mhsprecher]

There have been discussions on this topic earlier, but they are a bit dated. The consensus was that molded linings were better for cast iron drums than the woven linings. Of the major parts vendors, only one appears to carry molded linings, so it had me wondering what the current thinking on this topic is?

Fwiw, I am putting cast iron drums on the roadster in my avatar. The TS in the back already has them.

[arnhemmer]

I'm using the molded linings with the cast iron drums. Before they went to disc brakes all modern cars had molded linings with their cast iron drums.

[Marshall V. Daut]

Order the brake shoes with molded linings arched to match new cast iron drums from Randy Gross in California. These linings give a firm pedal feel, while woven linings result in a softer, mushier pedal. I have both and much prefer the molded linings from Randy. Either send in your shoes as exchange cores or pay a little extra and buy the shoes with linings molded in place. Randy arches the shoes so that the brake material makes 100% contact against the brake drum right away instead of seating itself gradually as woven linings require.
Marshall

[Aretino]

Randy restored my rear brakes to include emergency brake components. Randy does excellent work.

[nkaminar]

Which stop better?

My friend in Santa Clara says the woven ones squeak. Has that been the experience of the Barners?

[mhsprecher]

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I have had the drums for a few years. I had the hubs installed and the drums turned. I realize that the shoes need to be arched to the drums. As with most projects, it is more complicated than originally thought.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by mhsprecher

I have had the drums for a few years. I had the hubs installed and the drums turned. I realize that the shoes need to be arched to the drums. As with most projects, it is more complicated than originally thought.

Milford, you are very correct. As research towards accurate or authentic restorations have been done over the past decade or so, it is realized just how good original Model-A brakes truly were when they are as they came from the factory. To correctly restore a set of brakes to make them "as good as original" is definitely more complicated than most hobbyists thought, -or think. It honestly requires more jigs, fixtures, and tooling to restore them correctly than most hobbyists have access to.

[Bob Bidonde]

I tried molded linings, but I am going back to woven linings. The molded linings produce too much brake dust that shows on my Tacoma Cream wheels. Moreover, I find that the woven linings give better panic stopping with my cast iron drums.

[Dick Carne]

I have had both on our Town Sedan with cast drums. After the first thousand miles the woven linings had essentially glazed over making stopping a real challenge. I’ve since converted to the molded shoes and no longer have issues. Hope this helps.

[P.S.]

This is a topic in this coming Saturday's video.

The bonded shoes have a lot more grip against the cast iron drums than woven, and I kinda talk about that and show it.

Bonded shoes on stock steel drums don't seem to work as well, so woven appears to be the way to go on steel drums.

[nkaminar]

Paul, I am looking forward to your video. I get conflicting reports on the two types of shoe linings. Right now I have the molded shoes but I am always interested in alternatives. Some actual engineering quantities, like a coefficient of friction for the two for both new and used, would be nice. But that may be asking too much.

[P.S.]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

Paul, I am looking forward to your video. I get conflicting reports on the two types of shoe linings. Right now I have the molded shoes but I am always interested in alternatives. Some actual engineering quantities, like a coefficient of friction for the two for both new and used, would be nice. But that may be asking too much.

OOF! Well, I hadn't really gone into that much detail. Sorry, man. Although I am an engineer, and such things interest me, pretty sure about 99% of my audience would tune out if I went for that much detail.

[duke36]

Have had some rivets on the woven linings loosen or weren't installed properly.
Gross recommends bonded with their ci drums.

[nkaminar]

Paul, I guess that puts me in the 1 percent although my bank account doesn't know that.

For future reference, the coefficient of friction can be measured by putting the sample on a piece of cast iron or steel and raising one end until the sample slips. The coefficient of friction is the tangent of the angle when the sample slips. The amount of weight on the sample does not change the physics or math but more weight may change the coefficient of friction.

[Patrick L.]

I think you'll prefer the bonded/moulded material with cast drums.

If you feel the need to arc the shoes and have trouble finding a place to do it, I tape sand paper to the drum and 'wiggle' the shoes against the sand paper carefully until full contact is made.

[whirnot]

I have three different types on different cars. All with new cast iron drums and a complete brake overhaul. All shoes were arced to the new drums. My roadster has molded linings. My pickup has the original style Woven.
And my Town Sedan has the "soft" woven linings that Berts sells.

All do a good job stopping the Vehicle.
The Original style Woven are a little too grabby in my opinion. They lock up pretty easily. They also squeek the loudest.

The Sedan with the soft woven, also do a great job stopping, are a little quieter. They do squeek once in a while.

The roadster with the molded definitely take the most pedal pressure in a normal situation, even though it is the lightest car. They don't make any Noise.

Personally I like the Soft Woven the best.

In my opinion molded linings do not work better that woven, quite the opposite

[ABento]

Now that this discussion is up and running I'll jump in, I'm working on a 34 1 1/2 ton truck with mech brakes and woven linings, it has a soft pedal, doesn't stop and even has a vacume assist booster on it, it'll slow toy down but if it had a load on it you better drag your swamper to stop, everything is adjusted up pretty snug and still not much help, is the bonded lining the answer on this.

[Marshall V. Daut]

ABento -
Read posting #3 in regards to a soft brake pedal. There's your answer - or at least it was for me.
Marshall

[ABento]

I read all the posts but a lot of the posters say the woven works better in the steel drums of which is what is on the truck, I had been thinking of going bonded but the brake place I use that has been in business for 50 years or so says the woven is what they use on crane drums and its the best, I wanted to see what you guys thoughts were on this, it is kind of explained from reading the above posts.

[ModelA29]

I wonder if the removal of asbestos from brakes has had an effect of their stopping distance or fade resistance.