1934 Brake Cross Shaft - 2 versions?

[JR48]

I am a new member about to start work on restoring a 34 chassis for a Cabriolet.
I’ve got 2 versions of the centrally located brake cross shaft mechanisms, one is a simpler version of the other, the more complex one appears to separate out the hand brake function. Check out the photos. Have I got this right?
The simpler cross shaft mechanism appears to be the correct version for the standard 1934 chassis, am I correct in assuming this?
Then where does the more complex version come from? I look forward to hearing your comments.

[Lawrie]

The earlier single version has the emergency brake operate on all four wheels,the later two shaft one has the emergency brake work on the rear wheels only.
Lawrie

[CrazyBackyardBuilder]

I learn something new everyday, next time I am under my car I will have to see which one it has.

Thanks,

[Bruce in southern OH]

Right one is 34, left one is 35 and up

[JM 35 Sedan]

JR, with my limited experience on '34's, I have only ever seen the one shown on the right side of your pictures, but this got me thinking/wondering why Ford didn't carry that later style/version over into '35? Wondering if the version on the left was not used in the USA. To my knowledge all '35-'36 pass. & light comm. brake cross shafts in the US were designed similar to the one on the right in your pictures. I personally like the fact that all four wheels are activated for emergency braking rather than just two rears.
Do you have a copy of the Early Ford V-8 Club's 1934 Ford Book? If not, you really need to get a copy. You can go to the EFV-8 C/A website and order a copy there. Good luck with your project!

[Terry,OH]

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Beside 34 passenger car having single main shaft with a spiral return spring, the 35 & 36 also have single shaft without a return spring. Look for a part number indented into the casting, on the reinforcement web in the rear of the shaft on the main mounting bracket. The P/N is for the bracket only but the prefix may help identify your double shaft unit. The top unit below is 34 Pass. and the lower is 35-36 Pass.

[33rds]

Here in Scandinavia where the most Ford 1933-34 assembled in Denmark. And all of them have the double shaft and separate emergency brake. I think it was a law here that required a separate emergency break

[JR48]

Thanks for all the replies, the information is very helpful. Yes, I have the 33/34 restoration manual, it is very helpful, just wish the pictures were bigger. Never mind, I'm already getting the next batch of questions ready!

[34 FORDOR]

The assembly on the left is correct, if late 34(as Lawrie posted ) and your car is Canadian and built for the export market ( RHD Commonwealth) they were required to have a separate hand brake system ,extra rods pins etc. to the rear brakes. The anti - rattler brackets and rubbers 40F-2503 that fit on the rear radius rods are not available from the US parts suppliers.

[DavidG]

Judging from your photos at the start of this thread the double cross shaft assembly on the left is from a '32 for a RHD chassis. Note the substantial difference in the bolt pattern where the assembly attaches to the center cross member. As indicated above, the double shaft assembly was used in both LHD and RHD countries that required a separate system for the hand brake. The double shaft system in some cases was employed with separate brake rods for the rear brakes (4 in total for the rear brakes) and in other cases with just two rear brake rods like the single shaft versions.

The photo below depicts a Ford of France '32 display chassis with the double cross shaft and four rear brake rods. (Sorry, no luck uploading this photo so far.)

The cross shaft on the right in your photo is for a late '33-'34 LHD chassis.