Improve '40 brakes on a '34?

[maud]

I saw Flathead Ted has a brake improver kit for stock mechanical brakes on a '34. Any improvements for a '40 hydraulic conversion on my '34 coupe? Ive rebuilt the wheel cyls and master cyl, and put on new metallic original type shoes, the brakes are marginal at best.

[Byron Warwick]

I installed '40 brakes on my '34 Pickup in the sixties. I rebuilt everything during my restoration, and used a "Mustang", dual Master cylinder and newyl rebuilt shoes. I don't have a problem with these brakes.
Cheers, Byron.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by maud

I saw Flathead Ted has a brake improver kit for stock mechanical brakes on a '34. Any improvements for a '40 hydraulic conversion on my '34 coupe? Ive rebuilt the wheel cyls and master cyl, and put on new metallic original type shoes, the brakes are marginal at best.

They should not be marginal unless there is a problem in the brake system somewhere.

[JWL]

After you have learned all the steps necessary to properly adjust the 40 shoes for maximum efficiency the next step for upgrade is the Lincoln style Bendix brakes.

[V8COOPMAN]

Hey maud......It's really hard to try to diagnose any possible remedies when your description of symptoms and the list of actual pieces of equipment you've used in your brake SYSTEM is "marginal at best".

What do the brakes do, or NOT do? What type of brakes did you use at each corner? What years and type of drums? Did you mount the shoes correctly? Were drums turned, and to what dimension? What type of master cylinder and what is the M/C bore (very important)? We need a whole lot of details for any hope of anything like a realistic analysis. DD

[Bruce Lancaster]

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Two biggies...shoes ground to fit actual diameter of drum, and BOTH adjustments made by the book, look in your service bulletins or in Rumbleseat's free online book.
First, the shoes get centered, then after that (until shoes are changed) minor adjustment for wear is done with upper adjustment only. Upper adjustment alone will not do the job until lower has been set right.
Basic adjustment is to get shoes as close to drums as possible without drag.
Your '40's have the double adjustment system, postwar '46-8 no.

[flatheadfan]

Several years ago I converted to hydraulic brakes on my '35 ('46-'48 Ford). The brakes were o.k. and definitely better than mechanical brakes. But, I was wanting something more aggressive without undergoing large (and expensive) updating to a modern braking system. The solution? I added a '54-'57 Ford vacuum booster. It was an easy and economical install and the brakes went from the mundane to the "super stopper" class!

This was not a new idea on my part. The various car manufactures did this during the 50s and 60s to upgrade their braking system to match the increasing power of modern engines.

Tom

[V12Bill]

I agree with everything that Bruce Lancaster has to say about your brakes. I noticed that you put metallic brake lined shoes on the car. I believe that they are for power brake systems. They are very hard and need a lot of force to make them work.

[Kahuna]

My 39 Ford has the original brakes. After I learned how to correctly adjust them, I find them to be excellent brakes. I didn't use hard linings, however.

[mrtexas]

Originally Posted by JWL

After you have learned all the steps necessary to properly adjust the 40 shoes for maximum efficiency the next step for upgrade is the Lincoln style Bendix brakes.

The bendix brakes are way better. IMHO throw out the old lockheeds and get some good brakes. I called my old lockheed backing plates "Ford frisbees" at the Chickasha swap meet. Didn't sell any either.

On my 36 woodie I put squareback spindles and discs on the front and bendix on the back. I might send my rear end off and get 9inch axles put on. Then I could have 4 wheel discs.

[Bassman/NZ]

I have 39-40 type brakes with a 67 Mustang dual master. They work great. If you have them set up right there is no need for a Lincoln upgrade or disc brakes.

[Charlie Stephens]

Is the long shoe in the correct position? It is the opposite from Bendix brakes but I don't remember what is correct, try the archives.

Charlie Stephens

[1937pickup]

Contact Richard Lacy at Early V8 Garage-he is the guru of old Ford brakes.

[Talkwrench]

Yes if they are setup well they do work. I did the same as Tom with a brake booster kept with the original single circuit. The bore size is unknown in the booster , yes its a bit better but not a revelation. I drive almost daily and Im happy with my brakes for what they are .
I have a dual circuit power booster [new] on my 56 Fairlane and the brakes are crap, Ive tried to work out why and now Im down to disassembly and new lines even though most parts look new ..?? Fades very badly when you need it most.

[bobH]

I second post #8. Original-type (soft) lining works for me. When I bought my car, it had modern, hard lining, and POOR brakes. Original, soft lining fixed it.

[maud]

I have a lot to chew on here. My car had already been converted to juice brakes when I got it. My wheel cylinders have 2 sizes of cups on each end, is this normal? I do not know the correct adjusting method. I didn't measure the drums.
I just moved from Texas to Oklahoma and now don't have a shop, or even a halfway level spot to work on anything. We have been getting so much rain, if I did get the car out from under the carport I'd be stuck. Thanks so much for the advice. I've been a mechanic for 40 years but these brakes are from another era, my '69 Roadrunner has great brakes! Thank you for the help.

[JSeery]

The adjustment procedures for your brakes is totally different than later model brakes. Need to get a copy of the procedure so you will see what is involved. Maybe someone has a link?

[bobH]

If one of us could find it, I'd suggest we re-post the procedure from Richard Lacy. I don't think it's been posted in a long time, and I believe folks new to these brakes could benefit from Richards experience.
Perhaps if someone posts Richards phone #, this fellow could get on-track with info.
(Oops, I see an 'almost' link posted above.)

[19Fordy]

Here's some brake adjustment info.

[Charlie Stephens]

Any chance the linkage was designed incorrectly and you are not getting enough "push" when you step on the pedal?

Charlie Stephens