The Ford Barn

Mike the Grump · 08-31-2017, 01:26 PM

Anyone know anything about or have any thoughts on these? I've been poking around the internet and have not seen any similar. But, maybe I have not looked hard enough.

The spring left me questioning this.

Thanks

Bob C · 08-31-2017, 01:32 PM

The bad thing with those is that if the drums and shoes are severely worn
the floater can go over center and lock up the brake.

Bob

Benson · 08-31-2017, 01:32 PM

My experience with these goes back a number of years. They worked OK UNTIL the drums get worn and/or turned larger than standard ...

If drum is too large they make a loud noise and go "over center" and lock up the front brake drum.

Some times they return to the correct position but if not you have to remove drum and release them manually.

Mike the Grump · 08-31-2017, 01:45 PM

Thank you for the replies. I feel better that it's not home made. The drums are new and the car is not on the road at this time. Certainly something to keep in mind though.

Vic in E-TN · 08-31-2017, 02:31 PM

Mike:
Check the archives. There are a few posts on this including one that I posted about 2 years ago. This floater was available generally 15 or 20 years ago and has performed well for me on one car. I wanted another one but they are not available from the vendors now.

Vic

Mike the Grump · 08-31-2017, 03:06 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic in E-TN

Mike:
Check the archives. There are a few posts on this including one that I posted about 2 years ago. This floater was available generally 15 or 20 years ago and has performed well for me on one car. I wanted another one but they are not available from the vendors now.

Vic

Groovy! I'll do that. Thanks Vic.

2manycars · 08-31-2017, 03:30 PM

I have used these since the 70's with good results.

TinCup · 08-31-2017, 03:37 PM

This might help

BILL WILLIAMSON · 08-31-2017, 04:51 PM

Those are SURE-STOP-EQUALIZERS! Sacramento Vintage may still sell them??
Minerva had them & they worked VERY WELL!----I "think" they help apply MORE pressure than stock!--YES, you gotta' keep your brakes adjusted, so they don't "possibly" pop over center, BUT you're supposed to that REGULARLY anyhow!
IF you use them, be SURE to shorten the operating pins, per instructions. "Someone" DIDN'T do that on Minerva & had the front rods adjusted to where they were on by only "about" 2 or 3 threads (EEEEK!)
Bill Screech

30 Tudor · 08-31-2017, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike the Grump

Anyone know anything about or have any thoughts on these? I've been poking around the internet and have not seen any similar. But, maybe I have not looked hard enough.

The spring left me questioning this.

Thanks

Have you had these off and taken any pics or made any measurements,,
it would be interesting to see exactly what they are about.
Some of us might like to make a set,, no need to reinvent the reinvented
brake apply lever. It looks like a good idea to me.
It could be designed so that it would be impossible to go past center and lock up. with the kind of leverage available there it looks like power brakes to me.

I like it.

160B · 08-31-2017, 05:06 PM

The spring in the photo is not the correct spring. The spring that is installed belongs at the top where the adjusting wedge is.

There should be two short springs between the shoe and the post on the backing plate.

Mike the Grump · 08-31-2017, 08:17 PM

Thank you for all the replies. I've learned a lot.

I'm still getting orientated on this project. Haven't had much time to mess with it yet. I do need to move this almost rolling chassis to another garage this weekend. It's not a long trip, about 50 yards.

Hubs had been swedged to the new front drums.
New shoes were installed but appear not to have been arched.
The drums don't fit over the shoes.

This is when I started looking at the equalizers and sorting out (in my pea brain) how the drum brakes and rod adjustments worked to determine if I could get a little more clearance. I've backed out the adjuster and disconnected the rod. The drum still won't fit.

Normally, I don't like cutting corners but I'm not going to have time to find someone to arch shoes for me or source the correct springs. I don't see any reason I can't pull the shoes out, put the drums on and push the chassis around the property. Anyone see how that would cause a problem?

The car is 400 miles from where I live. This will all be much easier when it's in my garage early next year.

Thanks again.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 09-02-2017, 11:13 AM

Grumpy,
You complained about moving your chassis.
Heard of a Guy that got tired of moving his Fordor & mounted a Briggs & Stratton with a centrifugal clutch, on a flat bar that clamped on the frame rails. He welded a splined clutch center to the end of the clutch & plugged it onto the pilot shaft. With NO floorboards, he could reach the controls & "DROVE" it back & forth!!!
Bill Whydidn'tIthinkofthat?

wmws · 09-02-2017, 11:31 AM

Mike. No problem pulling the shoes out to roll the car around. Just don't forget to put them back in before you take off somewhere.

08-31-2017, 01:32 PM	#2
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,753	Re: Brake floaters? The bad thing with those is that if the drums and shoes are severely worn the floater can go over center and lock up the brake. Bob

08-31-2017, 01:32 PM	#3
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,597	Re: Brake floaters? My experience with these goes back a number of years. They worked OK UNTIL the drums get worn and/or turned larger than standard ... If drum is too large they make a loud noise and go "over center" and lock up the front brake drum. Some times they return to the correct position but if not you have to remove drum and release them manually. Last edited by Benson; 08-31-2017 at 03:53 PM.

08-31-2017, 01:45 PM	#4
Mike the Grump Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: SoCal Posts: 47	Re: Brake floaters? Thank you for the replies. I feel better that it's not home made. The drums are new and the car is not on the road at this time. Certainly something to keep in mind though.

08-31-2017, 02:31 PM	#5
Vic in E-TN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Maryville, TN Posts: 491	Re: Brake floaters? Mike: Check the archives. There are a few posts on this including one that I posted about 2 years ago. This floater was available generally 15 or 20 years ago and has performed well for me on one car. I wanted another one but they are not available from the vendors now. Vic

08-31-2017, 03:30 PM	#7
2manycars Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern CT Posts: 2,732	Re: Brake floaters? I have used these since the 70's with good results. __________________ Bill www.brauchauto.com

08-31-2017, 04:51 PM	#9
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Brake floaters? Those are SURE-STOP-EQUALIZERS! Sacramento Vintage may still sell them?? Minerva had them & they worked VERY WELL!----I "think" they help apply MORE pressure than stock!--YES, you gotta' keep your brakes adjusted, so they don't "possibly" pop over center, BUT you're supposed to that REGULARLY anyhow! IF you use them, be SURE to shorten the operating pins, per instructions. "Someone" DIDN'T do that on Minerva & had the front rods adjusted to where they were on by only "about" 2 or 3 threads (EEEEK!) Bill Screech __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF" Last edited by BILL WILLIAMSON; 08-31-2017 at 05:52 PM.

08-31-2017, 05:06 PM	#11
160B Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Port Orchard, WA Posts: 1,498	Re: Brake floaters? The spring in the photo is not the correct spring. The spring that is installed belongs at the top where the adjusting wedge is. There should be two short springs between the shoe and the post on the backing plate. __________________ 1931 160B & 1931 68B If you don't have time to do it right the 1st time, how do you have time to do it the 2nd time?

08-31-2017, 08:17 PM	#12
Mike the Grump Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: SoCal Posts: 47	Re: Brake floaters? Thank you for all the replies. I've learned a lot. I'm still getting orientated on this project. Haven't had much time to mess with it yet. I do need to move this almost rolling chassis to another garage this weekend. It's not a long trip, about 50 yards. Hubs had been swedged to the new front drums. New shoes were installed but appear not to have been arched. The drums don't fit over the shoes. This is when I started looking at the equalizers and sorting out (in my pea brain) how the drum brakes and rod adjustments worked to determine if I could get a little more clearance. I've backed out the adjuster and disconnected the rod. The drum still won't fit. Normally, I don't like cutting corners but I'm not going to have time to find someone to arch shoes for me or source the correct springs. I don't see any reason I can't pull the shoes out, put the drums on and push the chassis around the property. Anyone see how that would cause a problem? The car is 400 miles from where I live. This will all be much easier when it's in my garage early next year. Thanks again.

09-02-2017, 11:13 AM	#13
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Brake floaters? Grumpy, You complained about moving your chassis. Heard of a Guy that got tired of moving his Fordor & mounted a Briggs & Stratton with a centrifugal clutch, on a flat bar that clamped on the frame rails. He welded a splined clutch center to the end of the clutch & plugged it onto the pilot shaft. With NO floorboards, he could reach the controls & "DROVE" it back & forth!!! Bill Whydidn'tIthinkofthat? __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

09-02-2017, 11:31 AM	#14
wmws BANNED Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Coatesville, Pa Posts: 719	Re: Brake floaters? Mike. No problem pulling the shoes out to roll the car around. Just don't forget to put them back in before you take off somewhere.