The Ford Barn

shew01 · 08-25-2019, 06:35 PM

Yesterday, I was planning to repack the wheel bearings, and I couldn’t remove the drum because (I think) the brake shoes where hanging on the drum. I was afraid to loosen the brakes (because I’m a first time A owner, and I didn’t want to open Pandora’s Box and have to readjust the brakes.)

The outside bearing came out okay, and I repacked it before giving up on the inside bearing.

Is it “normal” for the brake shoes to make drum removal difficult?

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Clem Clement · 08-25-2019, 07:03 PM

yes. Back them off. The rim can get enough wear to hold the shoes hostage.

Mulletwagon · 08-25-2019, 07:16 PM

A couple of CCW clicks on the adjusting studs should retract the shoes enough for easy removal of the drum. Fear not - just jump in after a little homework !

shew01 · 08-25-2019, 07:50 PM

Thanks. I’ve read about Brake adjustment, and it sounds complicated. Can “mere mortals” do this without fowling it up?

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Curtis in MA · 08-25-2019, 07:57 PM

When you back off the adjuster count the clicks and write it down. When you put them back on tighten that many clicks.

shew01 · 08-25-2019, 07:59 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulletwagon

A couple of CCW clicks on the adjusting studs should retract the shoes enough for easy removal of the drum. Fear not - just jump in after a little homework !

I just saw your post. If I count the clicks, can reverse the clicks the same amount and have roughly the same braking as before I “messed” with the brakes? Or, is it a “start from scratch” adjustment experience that I’m in for?

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shew01 · 08-25-2019, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curtis in MA

When you back off the adjuster count the clicks and write it down. When you put them back on tighten that many clicks.

Thanks! That sounds like I stand a fair chance of not messing this up.

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Mulletwagon · 08-25-2019, 08:32 PM

Shew,
You will probably need to do a total brake adjustment. Would recommend the "board" method. Might find the following helpful. Good Luck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMizfaKHXVQ

shew01 · 08-25-2019, 08:51 PM

Thanks for the video. The previous owner sent a board with the car.

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Mike V. Florida · 08-25-2019, 09:26 PM

You have the "Andrews red book" right?

CWPASADENA · 08-25-2019, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shew01

Thanks! That sounds like I stand a fair chance of not messing this up.

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As stated before, just counts the clicks and you will be fine.

Chris W.

shew01 · 08-26-2019, 04:24 AM

Yes, I do have the red book, and I recall reading about brake adjustment several weeks before I purchased the car (and it sounded complicated, at least to someone who has never adjusted Model A brakes before). However, I couldn’t find what I needed in the book when I had the wheel off the car, and I didn’t want to end up with a snowball of repairs that would keep me from driving the car for an extended amount of time. (Wow, I underestimated how folks tend to react to these old cars when you drive them. Kid especially seem to enjoy seeing them and hearing the horn. I took the car to church on Sunday, and we had a “meeting” in the parking lot after the meeting inside. It was hilarious.)

Thanks for the feedback. I plan to start by counting the clicks the next time I get an opportunity to work on the car. If reversing the number of clicks doesn’t leave me with good stopping power, I plan to do a deeper dive on brake adjustment.

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08-25-2019, 06:35 PM	#1
shew01 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Roanoke, VA USA Posts: 1,908	1931 Wheel Bearings and Brakes Yesterday, I was planning to repack the wheel bearings, and I couldn’t remove the drum because (I think) the brake shoes where hanging on the drum. I was afraid to loosen the brakes (because I’m a first time A owner, and I didn’t want to open Pandora’s Box and have to readjust the brakes.) The outside bearing came out okay, and I repacked it before giving up on the inside bearing. Is it “normal” for the brake shoes to make drum removal difficult? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08-25-2019, 07:03 PM	#2
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: 1931 Wheel Bearings and Brakes yes. Back them off. The rim can get enough wear to hold the shoes hostage.

08-25-2019, 07:16 PM	#3
Mulletwagon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Florida Panhandle Posts: 585	Re: 1931 Wheel Bearings and Brakes A couple of CCW clicks on the adjusting studs should retract the shoes enough for easy removal of the drum. Fear not - just jump in after a little homework !

08-25-2019, 07:50 PM	#4
shew01 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Roanoke, VA USA Posts: 1,908	Re: 1931 Wheel Bearings and Brakes Thanks. I’ve read about Brake adjustment, and it sounds complicated. Can “mere mortals” do this without fowling it up? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08-25-2019, 07:57 PM	#5
Curtis in MA Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Leicester, MA Posts: 296	Re: 1931 Wheel Bearings and Brakes When you back off the adjuster count the clicks and write it down. When you put them back on tighten that many clicks.

08-25-2019, 08:32 PM	#8
Mulletwagon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Florida Panhandle Posts: 585	Re: 1931 Wheel Bearings and Brakes Shew, You will probably need to do a total brake adjustment. Would recommend the "board" method. Might find the following helpful. Good Luck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMizfaKHXVQ

08-25-2019, 08:51 PM	#9
shew01 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Roanoke, VA USA Posts: 1,908	Re: 1931 Wheel Bearings and Brakes Thanks for the video. The previous owner sent a board with the car. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08-25-2019, 09:26 PM	#10
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: 1931 Wheel Bearings and Brakes You have the "Andrews red book" right? __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

08-26-2019, 04:24 AM	#12
shew01 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Roanoke, VA USA Posts: 1,908	Re: 1931 Wheel Bearings and Brakes Yes, I do have the red book, and I recall reading about brake adjustment several weeks before I purchased the car (and it sounded complicated, at least to someone who has never adjusted Model A brakes before). However, I couldn’t find what I needed in the book when I had the wheel off the car, and I didn’t want to end up with a snowball of repairs that would keep me from driving the car for an extended amount of time. (Wow, I underestimated how folks tend to react to these old cars when you drive them. Kid especially seem to enjoy seeing them and hearing the horn. I took the car to church on Sunday, and we had a “meeting” in the parking lot after the meeting inside. It was hilarious.) Thanks for the feedback. I plan to start by counting the clicks the next time I get an opportunity to work on the car. If reversing the number of clicks doesn’t leave me with good stopping power, I plan to do a deeper dive on brake adjustment. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk