The Ford Barn

henryford30 · 07-19-2022, 02:14 AM

Hello Specialists
My Name is Josef and I live in Munich Germany.
I have a 30" Ford Coupe on which I repaired some things with success
I ordered and installed this Flathead Ted Floater Kit for the brakes.
The brakes would go very well but unfortunately I have a problem here.
When I step on the brake pedal the Ford brakes very well, but when I release the pedal the brake does not release.
Only when the car comes to a standstill does the brake release again and I can continue driving.
I have already found the video of Flathead Ted on the Internet, but unfortunately my English is not so good that I understand him correctly.
I think he said in the video something about different heights of the brake shoes ??
It would be great if one of you specialists could help me.
Thank you very much already !!!

Josef

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

28PHAETONROY · 07-19-2022, 07:07 AM

Hi Josef
Welcome to Ford Barn.
I installed FHT kit a few year’s ago. No problems in 15000 miles. I would try to find which wheel is locking by driving on a gravel area and applying the brakes. Then back off the brake adjustment on the backing plate a little at a time. Another thing I do is feel each brake drum after driving to see if the heat is about the same on all drums.
Roy in Maryland.

henryford30 · 07-19-2022, 07:23 AM

Hello Roy

Thanks for your reply
I have hooked the brake linkage for each wheel individually to see which wheel is locking. It is both front wheels that are not releasing.
I will recheck the whole brake shoe adjustment and start from the beginning with the brake adjustment.
I also read somewhere that one brake shoe should be a little higher than the other ???

Thank you very much

Y-Blockhead · 07-19-2022, 08:41 AM

Ensure your brake adjusting shafts move freely. They were not designed to move as they do with the FHT kit.

Originally they were designed to push out to adjust the brakes by the adjusting wedge. With the FHT kit they now not only adjust the brakes but move each time you apply the brakes to act like self energizing brakes also because the adjusting wedge is floating.

If they don't move freely back into position, they can lock your brakes.

Only happens on the front as you stated because the rears have a different design for adjusting the brakes.

Hope that all makes sense Josef. Welcome to the Barn.

28PHAETONROY · 07-19-2022, 08:42 AM

Don’t know about one being higher than the other. Did you center the shoes by applying the brakes and then tightening the lower anchor bolt?

henryford30 · 07-19-2022, 08:49 AM

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I did not make this step. I will now first loosen the lower ancher bolt, should I then screw in the adjuster until the brake shoes are tight or press the brake pedal and a second man then screw the anchor bolt tight?

28PHAETONROY · 07-19-2022, 09:55 PM

I’d have to find my FHT instructions, but I believe I held the brake pedal down with the anchor bolt loose, then tightened it. This centers the shoes and locks them there.

28PHAETONROY · 07-19-2022, 09:57 PM

A notched stick hold the brake pedal down if you don’t have a second person.

28PHAETONROY · 07-19-2022, 10:05 PM

I guess I didn’t really answer your question. I’m not sure what to do with the top adjuster while holding the brake and tightening the anchor bolt. I’ll look for my instructions and see if it’s spelled out.

updraught · 07-20-2022, 12:17 AM

He says in the 35 Ford video to use the coloured adjusting pins on the rear brakes to adjust the shoe height and if the two shoes are not the same height they can hang up. On the front ones he says to not tighten the sliding V setup too tight, about 10 pounds initially, as the wedge can jamb up.
Anyway, thet'ts my New Zealand translation.

07-19-2022, 02:14 AM	#1
henryford30 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Posts: 16	Help!! Flathead Ted Floater Kit Problems Hello Specialists My Name is Josef and I live in Munich Germany. I have a 30" Ford Coupe on which I repaired some things with success I ordered and installed this Flathead Ted Floater Kit for the brakes. The brakes would go very well but unfortunately I have a problem here. When I step on the brake pedal the Ford brakes very well, but when I release the pedal the brake does not release. Only when the car comes to a standstill does the brake release again and I can continue driving. I have already found the video of Flathead Ted on the Internet, but unfortunately my English is not so good that I understand him correctly. I think he said in the video something about different heights of the brake shoes ?? It would be great if one of you specialists could help me. Thank you very much already !!! Josef Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

07-19-2022, 07:07 AM	#2
28PHAETONROY Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Hagerstown, MD Posts: 32	Re: Help!! Flathead Ted Floater Kit Problems Hi Josef Welcome to Ford Barn. I installed FHT kit a few year’s ago. No problems in 15000 miles. I would try to find which wheel is locking by driving on a gravel area and applying the brakes. Then back off the brake adjustment on the backing plate a little at a time. Another thing I do is feel each brake drum after driving to see if the heat is about the same on all drums. Roy in Maryland.

07-19-2022, 07:23 AM	#3
henryford30 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Posts: 16	Re: Help!! Flathead Ted Floater Kit Problems Hello Roy Thanks for your reply I have hooked the brake linkage for each wheel individually to see which wheel is locking. It is both front wheels that are not releasing. I will recheck the whole brake shoe adjustment and start from the beginning with the brake adjustment. I also read somewhere that one brake shoe should be a little higher than the other ??? Thank you very much

07-19-2022, 08:41 AM	#4
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,946	Re: Help!! Flathead Ted Floater Kit Problems Ensure your brake adjusting shafts move freely. They were not designed to move as they do with the FHT kit. Originally they were designed to push out to adjust the brakes by the adjusting wedge. With the FHT kit they now not only adjust the brakes but move each time you apply the brakes to act like self energizing brakes also because the adjusting wedge is floating. If they don't move freely back into position, they can lock your brakes. Only happens on the front as you stated because the rears have a different design for adjusting the brakes. Hope that all makes sense Josef. Welcome to the Barn. Last edited by Y-Blockhead; 07-19-2022 at 08:56 AM.

07-19-2022, 08:42 AM	#5
28PHAETONROY Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Hagerstown, MD Posts: 32	Re: Help!! Flathead Ted Floater Kit Problems Don’t know about one being higher than the other. Did you center the shoes by applying the brakes and then tightening the lower anchor bolt?

07-19-2022, 08:49 AM	#6
henryford30 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Posts: 16	Re: Help!! Flathead Ted Floater Kit Problems Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I did not make this step. I will now first loosen the lower ancher bolt, should I then screw in the adjuster until the brake shoes are tight or press the brake pedal and a second man then screw the anchor bolt tight?

07-19-2022, 09:55 PM	#7
28PHAETONROY Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Hagerstown, MD Posts: 32	Re: Help!! Flathead Ted Floater Kit Problems I’d have to find my FHT instructions, but I believe I held the brake pedal down with the anchor bolt loose, then tightened it. This centers the shoes and locks them there.

07-19-2022, 09:57 PM	#8
28PHAETONROY Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Hagerstown, MD Posts: 32	Re: Help!! Flathead Ted Floater Kit Problems A notched stick hold the brake pedal down if you don’t have a second person.

07-19-2022, 10:05 PM	#9
28PHAETONROY Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Hagerstown, MD Posts: 32	Re: Help!! Flathead Ted Floater Kit Problems I guess I didn’t really answer your question. I’m not sure what to do with the top adjuster while holding the brake and tightening the anchor bolt. I’ll look for my instructions and see if it’s spelled out.

07-20-2022, 12:17 AM	#10
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 1,990	Re: Help!! Flathead Ted Floater Kit Problems He says in the 35 Ford video to use the coloured adjusting pins on the rear brakes to adjust the shoe height and if the two shoes are not the same height they can hang up. On the front ones he says to not tighten the sliding V setup too tight, about 10 pounds initially, as the wedge can jamb up. Anyway, thet'ts my New Zealand translation.