'38'Cable brakes with 'Floaters'

[39DLXE]

Hello again:
Thought it would be best to start a new thread RE: cable brakes.
I know '37 and '38s have cable brakes, but have also heard 'cable brakes in conjuction w/ 'floaters', and kept well adjusted can function almost as well as 'juice' (my 39) brakes'.
Would probly like to keep original cable brakes, but not familiar with the term 'Floaters' and what their function is. Can any shed any light on this? would be much appreciated.
thanks,
John

[alanwoodieman]

google flatheadted.com, he is the inventor/purveyor of these floaters. I have installed his floater on a couple of Model A's and a 36 sedan, they work good, can slide all four wheels if you want to. I have not done a conversion using cable brakes, one thing I can tell you about cables is you must keep the inner cable free so they will not bind in the outer shield

[39DLXE]

OK ! WOW. Quick response! Thanks alanwoodieman, will check that google and what you say makes a lot of sense regarding inner cable and shield.
thanks again,

John

[Kurt in NJ]

it should have floaters from the factory
good well lubed cables---not grease, grease will make the cables sticky, motor oil or gear oil, make a funnel by tieing plastic on the outer on one end to make a funnel and work the cable till clean oil comes out the other end

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by 39DLXE

Hello again:
Thought it would be best to start a new thread RE: cable brakes.
I know '37 and '38s have cable brakes, but have also heard 'cable brakes in conjuction w/ 'floaters', and kept well adjusted can function almost as well as 'juice' (my 39) brakes'.
Would probly like to keep original cable brakes, but not familiar with the term 'Floaters' and what their function is. Can any shed any light on this? would be much appreciated.
thanks,
John

Allow me to make a correction to your statement that cable brakes can function ALMOST as well as juice brakes: With floaters, and properly adjusted, cable brakes will perform BETTER than any Ford juice brakes up to at least 1948. Cable brakes will also be more reliable than ANY juice brakes up to dual master cylinder brakes.

About floaters, their function is to permit the shoes to float as Ford intended, thereby becoming self energized. How this is done is to convert the adjuster from a wedge type adjuster ( Hotchkiss, adjusted with a wrench) to a star type adjuster (Bendix, adjusted with a brake spoon). The Hotchkiss design with wedges does not permit the floating action sufficiently to be self energizing every time you apply the brakes, as the components are "wedged" tightly against each other, preventing any meaningful movement, almost being in a fixed position. The Bendix Star type, is not restricted in its movement at all, meaning that the shoes are absolutely free to move, providing the desired self energizing effect.

Flathead Ted has designed a wedge floater for the early Fords, before 1937, that performs better than the original Ford wedge. The early Fords could not accommodate a Bendix type adjuster, so his product has gained favor for those early Fords, but due to its retaining the wedge design, cannot perform near as well as the star type in '37 - '38 brakes.

[39DLXE]

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Significant amount of credible inf., ford38v8. I watched his youtube video and if this car is viable I think your inf on Flathead Ted's floaters is convincing.

Thanks
John

[Capsacto]

Shortly after I purchased my 37 three years ago I was inspecting and lubing everything on the chassis. My brake cables were so tight and gummed up with stuff I couldn’t move them through their conduits by hand. I Pulled the front drums and rear hub/drum assemblies to inspect the brakes. I removed the cables from their lever arms so that they could move through the whole length of the conduits. I cleaned the cables and used some PB Blaster lubricant for cables until the movement was smooth as silk with no resistance. It’s a time consuming job, but we’ll worth it. Everything ford38v8 wrote is on target.

[Jack E/NJ]

ford38v8>>>Flathead Ted has designed a wedge floater for the early Fords, before 1937, that performs better than the original Ford wedge. The early Fords could not accommodate a Bendix type adjuster, so his product has gained favor for those early Fords, but due to its retaining the wedge design, cannot perform near as well as the star type in '37 - '38 brakes.>>>

Sadly I replaced my mechanicals with Lockheeds. Probably even before FlatheadTed graduated from kindy. His mechanical floaters came too late for me. Now I'm hoping he can soon release his Lockheed floaters before it's too late again. 8^) Jack E/NJ

[ford38v8]

From the last two responses, it appears that I have not made it clear that Flathead Ted's Lockheed Wedge type floaters work well in pre-1937 Fords, but the better choice for '37-'38 Fords would be the Bendix Star type adjusters. Sadly, I do not know of a manufacturer of the Star type today. Someone did say Mac's has it, not sure.

[Chuck Kuntz]

I installed a set of Ted's floaters on a friends 37. The installation was fairly easy and made a big difference in the car.

[Jack E/NJ]

from https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...8338&showall=1

Originally Posted by Jack E/NJ

FlatheadTed>>>Yes like Bendix>>>OK. What about a kit for Lockheed hydraulics? When I was a clueless youngster, I installed them on my 38 thinking they'd stop quicker & straighter. I was only half right. 8^( Jack E/NJ

Originally Posted by FlatheadTed

You mean like 39 hydraulics ,I have the prototypes but never went any further ,since the Lincolns are available ,Should I revive the development ,Ted

Happily, FlatheadTed seems to be on the case. I think he's now testing 60 prototypes. Jack E/NJ