The Ford Barn

jfcrash · 05-06-2014, 06:00 PM

Can we revisit in sequence / step-by-step procedure for adjusting the mechanical brakes for a 1935 Ford?

Last fall I put the 35 Phaeton on the road for my first time, brakes were adjusted using the Model A method and wooden step gauge (I believe at the time this method was discussed here in our V8 forum… so I followed it). The brakes did not stop the car with any urgency and the left front wheel would lock up and pull sharply to the left…. then winter came.

Back ground- I have new: brake rods, adjusting clevis's and pins, relined woven brake shoes, brakes shoe adj links, brake shoe rollers and Ted's equalizer kit using only one new brake shoe retaining spring per wheel, ... drums are orig. but not turned down... Don't know if it matters, but at all lubrication points during assembly I used the silver never seize lubricant.

Now using the Brake Adjustment Instructions found in the ‘32-36 Engine & Chassis Repair Manual’ (V-13) pg 47:

Step one - 4 wheels are off the ground, release hand brake – OK,

Step two –Disconnect pull rods from their operating levers- OK,

Now I need your input- it says to turn the brake shoe adjusting screw in tight and then back off just enough to allow the wheels to turn… a couple of my wheels can still turn easily even before I back off the adjusting screw?? Where do I go from here and what should I watch out for??

Have not gotten to step 3 & 4.. any heads up here?

All guidance or better method will be appreciated, Thank You, Jim

Brendan · 05-06-2014, 06:18 PM

so did you drive your car? I try to get the wheals to turn with the same drag. also there is some thing in there about pulling the parking brake to the first click and after you adjust the brake shoes you need to adjust the brake rods I think it says after you take up the slack on the lever on the backing plate you needs something of a 32" of an inch difference. I have to reed it every time I adjust my brakes

JM 35 Sedan · 05-06-2014, 08:22 PM

What about the condition of the brake cross shaft/equalizer? If there is any slop in the bushings, you will not be able to adjust those brakes properly. Also, if you have the shoe adjustment, at top of backing plates, turned in as far as they will go, and the wheel still turns, you have a problem right there that you need to correct. I have never used Ted's floaters and don't know how they work, but I do have another brand of floaters on my Avatar 35 fordor. Those brakes work as good, if not better, than most '39-'48 Fords that I have driven. Keep working on what you have there. You should be able to skid the tires on hard braking when the system is right and properly adjusted.

jfcrash · 05-06-2014, 08:48 PM

John,
The brake cross shaft has new bushings and does not have any play in it as far as I can tell. I did read someplace here that a 'nail' can be placed between the brake shoe and the slot on the brake shoe adjusting link to 'shim' out the brake shoes, which I might try.

Brendan,
The proccedure I referenced does not mention moving the emergency brake except to the fully released position.

Jim

Terry,OH · 05-07-2014, 05:05 AM

Using the original style adjusters (the ones the procedure is written for) when you turn the adjuster in the brakes should lock and there is no way you could turn the drum by hand! So follow Ted's procedure for adjusting and lock the wheels with the adjuster.

Ken Arms · 05-07-2014, 07:18 AM

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I agree with Jim, I would think with all links off all 4 wheels, you should be able to lock all 4 up with the adjusters, if you can't then fix that first. maybe drums are too thin, part on the shoes that contacts wedge worn etc. Ken

AW3000 · 10-31-2023, 11:52 PM

I know this thread is really old, but did JFCrash come up with a solution? I'm encountering the exact same condition.

Terry,OH · 11-01-2023, 07:12 AM

If you lock up the each wheels brakes with the adjuster and then re-adjust for a slight drag each wheel should have APPROXIMATELY the same amount of re-adjustment which will tell you that things are working correctly to that point of the instructions. If the adjuster can not lock up the brakes it's best to stop and reinspect and go over Ted's instructions for installation.

DavidG · 11-01-2023, 02:10 PM

And once all four wheels have roughly the same slight drag, the rods may require readjustment to ensure none of them have any free play.

BobR35 · 11-01-2023, 05:42 PM

I jack the front axle and adjust each wheel individually, tight then back off til slight drag and then do the rear axle the same. I drive my '35 regularly and it stops as good as I think it will ever do so. I read the instructions way back when but it's too technical for me, I like to keep it simple....

Elkhorn · 03-30-2024, 11:59 AM

I am having a similar problem with the left front locking up..Wham...when the brakes are cold. I have had apart and flipped shoes, checked that everything moves freely etc. to no avail.
Any suggestions?

ScubaChief60 · 03-31-2024, 07:46 PM

I know it was not your question... but... 33 years ago, my old dad... a tough WW2 vet told in this... 'you replace those mechanical with hydraulic or your gonna bust your @$$'.

Then about two years back... a Vietnam Vet Marine who helped me with my V8 rebuild actually said the same thing... 'you replace those mechanical with hydraulic or your gonna bust your @$$'. I guess he wondered why I laughed out loud.

I did just that... weren't cheap but excellent brakes now!

My two cents.

I understand Buick went to hydraulics in maybe 1936... and Ford in 1939... and me in 2023

Take care!

05-06-2014, 06:00 PM	#1
jfcrash Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Western NY Posts: 170	35 Mechanical Brake Adjustment Help Can we revisit in sequence / step-by-step procedure for adjusting the mechanical brakes for a 1935 Ford? Last fall I put the 35 Phaeton on the road for my first time, brakes were adjusted using the Model A method and wooden step gauge (I believe at the time this method was discussed here in our V8 forum… so I followed it). The brakes did not stop the car with any urgency and the left front wheel would lock up and pull sharply to the left…. then winter came. Back ground- I have new: brake rods, adjusting clevis's and pins, relined woven brake shoes, brakes shoe adj links, brake shoe rollers and Ted's equalizer kit using only one new brake shoe retaining spring per wheel, ... drums are orig. but not turned down... Don't know if it matters, but at all lubrication points during assembly I used the silver never seize lubricant. Now using the Brake Adjustment Instructions found in the ‘32-36 Engine & Chassis Repair Manual’ (V-13) pg 47: Step one - 4 wheels are off the ground, release hand brake – OK, Step two –Disconnect pull rods from their operating levers- OK, Now I need your input- it says to turn the brake shoe adjusting screw in tight and then back off just enough to allow the wheels to turn… a couple of my wheels can still turn easily even before I back off the adjusting screw?? Where do I go from here and what should I watch out for?? Have not gotten to step 3 & 4.. any heads up here? All guidance or better method will be appreciated, Thank You, Jim __________________ ______________________________________________ jfc I couldn't repair the brakes, so I adjusted the horn louder....

05-06-2014, 06:18 PM	#2
Brendan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: At my kitchen table in Santa Rosa, Ca Posts: 2,903	Re: 35 Mechanical Brake Adjustment Help so did you drive your car? I try to get the wheals to turn with the same drag. also there is some thing in there about pulling the parking brake to the first click and after you adjust the brake shoes you need to adjust the brake rods I think it says after you take up the slack on the lever on the backing plate you needs something of a 32" of an inch difference. I have to reed it every time I adjust my brakes __________________ If it would have been a snake it would have bit ya! i can't spell my way out of a paper bag!

05-06-2014, 08:22 PM	#3
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: 35 Mechanical Brake Adjustment Help What about the condition of the brake cross shaft/equalizer? If there is any slop in the bushings, you will not be able to adjust those brakes properly. Also, if you have the shoe adjustment, at top of backing plates, turned in as far as they will go, and the wheel still turns, you have a problem right there that you need to correct. I have never used Ted's floaters and don't know how they work, but I do have another brand of floaters on my Avatar 35 fordor. Those brakes work as good, if not better, than most '39-'48 Fords that I have driven. Keep working on what you have there. You should be able to skid the tires on hard braking when the system is right and properly adjusted. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

05-06-2014, 08:48 PM	#4
jfcrash Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Western NY Posts: 170	Re: 35 Mechanical Brake Adjustment Help John, The brake cross shaft has new bushings and does not have any play in it as far as I can tell. I did read someplace here that a 'nail' can be placed between the brake shoe and the slot on the brake shoe adjusting link to 'shim' out the brake shoes, which I might try. Brendan, The proccedure I referenced does not mention moving the emergency brake except to the fully released position. Jim __________________ ______________________________________________ jfc I couldn't repair the brakes, so I adjusted the horn louder....

05-07-2014, 05:05 AM	#5
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,751	Re: 35 Mechanical Brake Adjustment Help Using the original style adjusters (the ones the procedure is written for) when you turn the adjuster in the brakes should lock and there is no way you could turn the drum by hand! So follow Ted's procedure for adjusting and lock the wheels with the adjuster.

05-07-2014, 07:18 AM	#6
Ken Arms Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Essex Vermont Posts: 599	Re: 35 Mechanical Brake Adjustment Help Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I agree with Jim, I would think with all links off all 4 wheels, you should be able to lock all 4 up with the adjusters, if you can't then fix that first. maybe drums are too thin, part on the shoes that contacts wedge worn etc. Ken

10-31-2023, 11:52 PM	#7
AW3000 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 1	Re: 35 Mechanical Brake Adjustment Help I know this thread is really old, but did JFCrash come up with a solution? I'm encountering the exact same condition.

11-01-2023, 07:12 AM	#8
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,751	Re: 35 Mechanical Brake Adjustment Help If you lock up the each wheels brakes with the adjuster and then re-adjust for a slight drag each wheel should have APPROXIMATELY the same amount of re-adjustment which will tell you that things are working correctly to that point of the instructions. If the adjuster can not lock up the brakes it's best to stop and reinspect and go over Ted's instructions for installation.

11-01-2023, 02:10 PM	#9
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: 35 Mechanical Brake Adjustment Help And once all four wheels have roughly the same slight drag, the rods may require readjustment to ensure none of them have any free play.

11-01-2023, 05:42 PM	#10
BobR35 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Pt. St. Lucie, FL Posts: 104	Re: 35 Mechanical Brake Adjustment Help I jack the front axle and adjust each wheel individually, tight then back off til slight drag and then do the rear axle the same. I drive my '35 regularly and it stops as good as I think it will ever do so. I read the instructions way back when but it's too technical for me, I like to keep it simple....

03-30-2024, 11:59 AM	#11
Elkhorn Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 1	Re: 35 Mechanical Brake Adjustment Help I am having a similar problem with the left front locking up..Wham...when the brakes are cold. I have had apart and flipped shoes, checked that everything moves freely etc. to no avail. Any suggestions?

03-31-2024, 07:46 PM	#12
ScubaChief60 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: Summerfield, NC Posts: 149	Re: 35 Mechanical Brake Adjustment Help I know it was not your question... but... 33 years ago, my old dad... a tough WW2 vet told in this... 'you replace those mechanical with hydraulic or your gonna bust your @$$'. Then about two years back... a Vietnam Vet Marine who helped me with my V8 rebuild actually said the same thing... 'you replace those mechanical with hydraulic or your gonna bust your @$$'. I guess he wondered why I laughed out loud. I did just that... weren't cheap but excellent brakes now! My two cents. I understand Buick went to hydraulics in maybe 1936... and Ford in 1939... and me in 2023 Take care!