How did this work? upside down brake actuation arm?

[Timsalways]

Hi, have put more miles on my 1930 Tudor model A this year than my 2004 Avalanche. I am always trying to get rid of rattles! While while replacing the brake rod's and installing anti-rattlers I have find many errors. My brakes have always been great! But I was having a major problem with the installation with the anti rattlers. Nothing lined up correctly. Are these upside down? and how did this configuration work for so long? I am getting ready to pull the drum/hub off. or can I just flip these around? I have had no problem braking but I am sure these are installed wrong. Any help or pictures will be appreciated. I hope to attach a picture or two. thanks Tim

[Goldhardt]

I've never seen that before. Those are definitely upside down!

[2manycars]

It looks to me like someone installed the backing plates on the wrong side of the car, then modified the brake rods to match.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I would take the drums off and check out the complete service and parking brake assemblies. At the very least the brake cams will need to be changed (flipped) when the arms are installed correctly. The cams will need to be flipped so they spread the shoes when the arm is pulled forward.

Also be sure the arms are on the correct sides. The opening for the rod is angled to match the frame taper.

[George Miller]

People sure do some amazing things. I have never seen this before also.
When you buy a Model A you never know what you will get.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

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[QUOTE=George Miller;1175474]People sure do some amazing things. I have never seen this before also.
When you buy a Model A you never know what you will get.[/QUOTE
It's EASY to forget things, how often do you look at some detail & say, "I DON'T REMEMBER IT LOOKIN' QUITE LIKE THAT"!!
PICS are a great REMEMBERRRRER TOOL
Bill W.

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by George Miller

People sure do some amazing things. I have never seen this before also.
When you buy a Model A you never know what you will get.

i will admit, in my haste and cherry picking parts i had i restored (blasted and painted and checked tolerances) of 2 passenger side emergency brake band supports for my AA... i too had an upside down arm and when pulled TIGHTENED the band instead of expanding it against the drum... Didnt know what i did until i decided to stop and do the passenger side rebuild to see what was going on and which was correct. Then discovered what i had done haha

Soo out to the pile of parts in the shed found a good drivers side and blasted and restored it!

[SteveB31]

I have seen that several times. You will have to take it apart some to fix it, but really just move the arms upright and reverse the cams. But........I would take it all apart as you don't know what else might be wrong.

[Timsalways]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I would take the drums off and check out the complete service and parking brake assemblies. At the very least the brake cams will need to be changed (flipped) when the arms are installed correctly. The cams will need to be flipped so they spread the shoes when the arm is pulled forward.

Also be sure the arms are on the correct sides. The opening for the rod is angled to match the frame taper.

I will pull the drums off today, I have not had them off yet. Nothing lined up well and the old rods were all bent to fit the angle of the lever. It's hard to imagine it working like that for so long with no problems. The way I caught it was because the anti rattlers didn't fit well at all, and there are not many references or pics about them. Thanks for all your help, Tim

[160B]

Am I missing something???? I do not see the emergency brake actuating arm or brake rod!!!!

[160B]

Here is a photo showing the correct installation of the service and emergency brake rods and actuating arms.

[Timsalways]

Originally Posted by 160B

Here is a photo showing the correct installation of the service and emergency brake rods and actuating arms.

Awesome! Thanks, here is a picture of what I had, I never knew it was wrong. I have for days been trying to figure out the anti rattler set up. I have many manuals but the best detailed info is right here. I am going to swap out the backing plate to the other side. Also, there is a return spring on my service brake arm? It don't even fit right, and also there is no spring on the emergency brake, Do I need these? Thanks,

[CarlG]

There is definitely a spring on the e-brake. There are a couple things about them:
• There is a right and a left spring
• They are a B***h to put on. I got this little tool at HF, does make things a bit easier.

[Big hammer]

IMO isn't the brake arm installed upside down,your adjuster sould be on the back side
Looking at 160b's picture maybe just changing the brake arm will make it right

[CT AV8]

Originally Posted by Big hammer

IMO isn't the brake arm installed upside down,your adjuster sould be on the back side
Looking at 160b's picture maybe just changing the brake arm will make it right

No, it would pull the lever the opposite way if mounted on top. Adjuster to the rear is correct but, like others above, I think they are swapped left to right and upside down.

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by CT AV8

No, it would pull the lever the opposite way if mounted on top. Adjuster to the rear is correct but, like others above, I think they are swapped left to right and upside down.

Couldn't you turn the lever up and turn the cam around ?

Bob

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Bob C

Couldn't you turn the lever up and turn the cam around ?

Bob

Yes, see #4. I would leave the backing plates in place and change the brake arm and flip the cam as I said in #4.

Also remove the parking brake arm and install the spring if it's not there. There is a right and left, so don't mix them up.

Be sure to notice the slight slant for the brake arm clevice, so the rods run parallel with the frame.

[Timsalways]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Yes, see #4. I would leave the backing plates in place and change the brake arm and flip the cam as I said in #4.

Also remove the parking brake arm and install the spring if it's not there. There is a right and left, so don't mix them up.

Be sure to notice the slight slant for the brake arm clevice, so the rods run parallel with the frame.

BINGO! I think you nailed it Tom, I thought those rods were straight, I got to get back under there and check it out, I haven't done anything for a few days now. I may run it for a awile before getting it 100% right, this is the first time I took rear hub off. "It's all used parts" are those pins easy to work, I have never peened a pin.

[Big hammer]

Both arms ( e- brake & service brake ) should be nestled together like in 160B's picture
Both arms are pulled foreword to engage

[Bob C]

I missed that Tom.

Bob