Brake shop and Floater advice OC, calif

[Nosetime]

Preparing to go through my mechanical brakes, any recommendations of local shop to have the drums turned, shoes arched if I can go that route? Also, looking into the Flat Head Ted floaters, any advice or experience with this kit? I'm in Huntington Beach. Thanks, Greg

[wmws]

I have Flat Head Ted floaters on the front of my car. They work great sort of like power brakes from the double leading shoe affect. The brakes will center themselves better also. Cast iron drums are also a BIG improvement. Highly recommended if you don't have them.

[Jim M]

Best brake shop in the country in very near you! Call Randy Gross.

[1955cj5]

Originally Posted by Jim M

Best brake shop in the country in very near you! Call Randy Gross.

Here is his contact info

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=224091

[Dick Steinkamp]

It would be pretty unusual if you can have the stock steel drums turned and still have an acceptable and safe thickness left.

I'm sure there is a place in SoCal to have drums turned and shoes arced, but if not there is one here that could do it for you...

http://www.unlimitedservice.us/brakereline.html

I have Ted's kit on both ends of my A. I'd say the only folks that would advise against it would be those that have never driven an A with the kit. Night and day.

[Nosetime]

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Thanks to all! I have yet to pull a drum so I don't know what I have going on, hopefully things are in decent shape.

[Mel Gross]

Nosetime

Call me as I live in Huntington Beach and I do a lot of Model A brake jobs.

Randy Gross
714-292-8660

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by wmws

I have Flat Head Ted floaters on the front of my car.

Why do you have FFT floaters just on the front? It was my understanding that they come in a complete kit, front and rear.

At any rate, I have FFT floaters front and rear. I won them at the Orange Pancake Breakfast raffle this year. I agree they are a BIG improvement. The brakes definitely have a different 'Feel' to them, almost like Power Brakes.

[Nosetime]

Thanks, Randy, will do!

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I lucked out on Vermin, steel drums are .010 OS & brand new Danish Woven linings!!!
Bill Blessed

[wmws]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

Why do you have FFT floaters just on the front? It was my understanding that they come in a complete kit, front and rear.

At any rate, I have FFT floaters front and rear. I won them at the Orange Pancake Breakfast raffle this year. I agree they are a BIG improvement. The brakes definitely have a different 'Feel' to them, almost like Power Brakes.

Why do you have FFT floaters just on the front? It was my understanding that they come in a complete kit, front and rear.

Y-Blockhead
I didn't feel like it was necessary to put them on the rear. I have the brakes set up so the front does most of the braking. The rears are easy to lock up anyway.

[denniskliesen]

Floaters on the rear allow the shoes to make full contact. Without them your shoes will make full contact on the cam end and not always on the adjustment end.

I installed the adjustment floaters, but not the square head roller pins. With the square pins I couldn't get them indexed to let the drums go on.

It's a matter of preference. Use what suits you best.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by wmws

Why do you have FFT floaters just on the front? It was my understanding that they come in a complete kit, front and rear.

Y-Blockhead
I didn't feel like it was necessary to put them on the rear. I have the brakes set up so the front does most of the braking. The rears are easy to lock up anyway.

Right on, I was just curious. I just like the idea of the self centering aspect with the FFT brakes.

I have my brakes biased more on the front also.

[Dick Steinkamp]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

I have my brakes biased more on the front also.

Me too. I don't understand the engineering behind having the rears do most of the braking originally.

Other than a Ted's kit, the biggest improvement I can think of to stock brakes is to have the fronts come on first.

[Nosetime]

I could not be more grateful and honored. Within hours of my original post Randy Gross stopped by my house and evaluated my situation and I got some really great advice/mentoring.! Now with a solid plan for my brakes to be done by Randy and what a great guy to boot! Thanks, Randy!

[Nosetime]

Oh, just to share what we found. Drums were steel and banded. Thankfully, hubs, races and bearings are good, so new cast iron drums and shoes are in order. After seeing some drums he had in his truck, I could not imagine doing it any other way!

[jthomas6]

Originally Posted by Nosetime

I could not be more grateful and honored. Within hours of my original post Randy Gross stopped by my house and evaluated my situation and I got some really great advice/mentoring.! Now with a solid plan for my brakes to be done by Randy and what a great guy to boot! Thanks, Randy!

That's what I'd call a service oriented individual!

[Slowplane]

This L.A. shop had a great rep back in the day, but I don't know if they're still in operation (lol)

[wmws]

That's a classic picture. Look at that old serve cycle.

[Nathan_1929]

Originally Posted by wmws

I have Flat Head Ted floaters on the front of my car. They work great sort of like power brakes from the double leading shoe affect. The brakes will center themselves better also. Cast iron drums are also a BIG improvement. Highly recommended if you don't have them.

Pardon my ignorance, but does this kit work with original style hardware? I just bought all new shoes/springs/adjusters/bearings, and I'm about to pull the trigger on some cast iron drums.

If the kit is a huge improvement, I'll likely get it too, but would hate to have just wasted money on original equipment.