The Ford Barn

Viv W · 07-14-2018, 01:33 PM

Hi All,
As per previous posts, my 35 has a 6 rod braking system, with 4 brake rods to the rear, 2 for service brakes and 2 for emergency brakes. I have made up new rods as per the info guys gave me and I am now putting the brakes together, but I can find NO information on how to adjust this system.
Every article I have found relates to the American 4 rod brake system.
Does anyone have information on how to adjust the 6 rod system please. Info on this system for right hand drive would be especially appreciated.
Many thanks and best wishes
Viv.

FritzJr · 07-14-2018, 02:33 PM

I have never seen a 6 rod system, except in pictures but I will make some suggestions. First loosen the emergency brake rods so that they have no effect. Then adjust the service brake rods in the same manner as a 4 rod system. The goal is to have all wheels with the same drag as the brakes are applied. Then go back and adjust the emergency brake rods so that both rear wheels are fully locked when the handle is at the middle of its stroke.

Viv W · 07-18-2018, 12:38 PM

Thanks, that sounds a good suggestion
Viv

FlatheadTed · 07-18-2018, 03:16 PM

Good advice from Frits, also Make sure the cross shaft on the service brake is canted forward about 15 Deg or 1" this can be adjusted by lengthening or shortening the foot brake rod .Also the starting position of the clevis arms on the front hub should be 15deg ,you regulate that by adding a pill shim (available from the model A venders ,or you can blob some weld on the actuator rod in the king pin ,that I prefer .Ted

Jembow · 07-19-2018, 01:14 AM

Service stations here that are authorised to carry out safety inspections have brake testers. I thought I'd set mine up well but on test it had zero on the fronts, so I had to go through it all again! Failing that, find a dirt road and make sure you have 4 even skid marks.

Jembow · 07-19-2018, 01:17 AM

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PS. Where was your car built? I didn't know US cars had only 4 rods. Is this a Canadian design?

DavidG · 07-19-2018, 04:50 AM

It isn't where the vehicle was manufactured that dictated whether the brake system was four rods with a single cross shaft or four rods with a double cross shaft or a six rod system, but rather where the vehicle was sold and the brake requirements of that jurisdiction. No North American jurisdiction required that the hand brake operation be on the rear brakes only or that the hand brakes be separate from the foot-operated brakes, but the countries that Ford exported to from both Canada and the U.S. did have such varying brake system requirements hence the existence of three distinctly different brake system designs in each model year of the mechanical brake era.

Jembow · 07-19-2018, 07:29 AM

I'm confused. Why did the Model A get a complete brake makeover, even down to seperate handbrake shoes? All the books say it was several States declared the original system, using same rods & shoes, to be illegal.

DavidG · 07-19-2018, 03:56 PM

Evidently four years later the objections by some states had been addressed/eliminated.

FlatheadTed · 07-19-2018, 05:52 PM

I think the early AR had a system were if one rod dropped of the other three don't work .split equaliser ,Ted

Jembow · 07-21-2018, 10:52 AM

I have an AR. All 4 rods are firmly fixed to a solid cross shaft - 1 falls off, all the others work. The footbrake pulls on that crossbar with a rod, I thought the objection was the handbrake uses that same rod, so if THAT fails, there is no alternative emergency brake.. How does this vary from the V8 system?

DavidG · 07-21-2018, 12:40 PM

It's basically the same, namely if both the pedal and the hand brake handle become disconnected from the cross shaft, you have no brakes. That's a pretty big "if"; right up there with the same "if" for the later Model A system with separate hand brakes (where there would still be a complete brake failure if two disconnections took place).

FlatheadTed · 07-21-2018, 04:59 PM

Your AR must have been changed to a one piece , they became illegal I think first in OHIO
E=Jembow;1653780]I have an AR. All 4 rods are firmly fixed to a solid cross shaft - 1 falls off, all the others work. The footbrake pulls on that crossbar with a rod, I thought the objection was the handbrake uses that same rod, so if THAT fails, there is no alternative emergency brake.. How does this vary from the V8 system?[/QUOTE]

DavidG · 07-21-2018, 05:25 PM

While it is a different rod (one for the pedal and another for the hand brake), it is the same cross shaft and the same four rods to the brake backing plates.

FlatheadTed · 07-21-2018, 06:15 PM

Part of the scrutiny of the Model A hand brake system would have included the overhall of the AR system .The split equaliser evens out rod tension so if a rod drop of a wheel it swings to that wheel and your left with nothing ,Ted

Viv W · 07-23-2018, 05:20 PM

Hi All,
Thanks for all the input. I adjusted the service brakes as suggested, by using the American style 4 rod braking system and then did the handbrake rods. The handbrake rods are virtually a reversal of the service brake rods and when adjusted have about the same clearance from the clevis pin to the slip link.
Anyway it all seems to work, which is the main thing. Still need to do a lot more things before I fire it up and take it for a road test, then off for upholstery.
Regards
Viv.

07-14-2018, 01:33 PM	#1
Viv W Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Harare Zimbabwe Posts: 160	Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? Hi All, As per previous posts, my 35 has a 6 rod braking system, with 4 brake rods to the rear, 2 for service brakes and 2 for emergency brakes. I have made up new rods as per the info guys gave me and I am now putting the brakes together, but I can find NO information on how to adjust this system. Every article I have found relates to the American 4 rod brake system. Does anyone have information on how to adjust the 6 rod system please. Info on this system for right hand drive would be especially appreciated. Many thanks and best wishes Viv.

07-14-2018, 02:33 PM	#2
FritzJr Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern Neck, VA Posts: 131	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? I have never seen a 6 rod system, except in pictures but I will make some suggestions. First loosen the emergency brake rods so that they have no effect. Then adjust the service brake rods in the same manner as a 4 rod system. The goal is to have all wheels with the same drag as the brakes are applied. Then go back and adjust the emergency brake rods so that both rear wheels are fully locked when the handle is at the middle of its stroke.

07-18-2018, 12:38 PM	#3
Viv W Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Harare Zimbabwe Posts: 160	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? Thanks, that sounds a good suggestion Viv

07-18-2018, 03:16 PM	#4
FlatheadTed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 4,705	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? Good advice from Frits, also Make sure the cross shaft on the service brake is canted forward about 15 Deg or 1" this can be adjusted by lengthening or shortening the foot brake rod .Also the starting position of the clevis arms on the front hub should be 15deg ,you regulate that by adding a pill shim (available from the model A venders ,or you can blob some weld on the actuator rod in the king pin ,that I prefer .Ted __________________ http://www.flatheadted.com Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

07-19-2018, 01:14 AM	#5
Jembow Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Spalding, United Kingdom Posts: 306	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? Service stations here that are authorised to carry out safety inspections have brake testers. I thought I'd set mine up well but on test it had zero on the fronts, so I had to go through it all again! Failing that, find a dirt road and make sure you have 4 even skid marks.

07-19-2018, 01:17 AM	#6
Jembow Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Spalding, United Kingdom Posts: 306	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) PS. Where was your car built? I didn't know US cars had only 4 rods. Is this a Canadian design?

07-19-2018, 04:50 AM	#7
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? It isn't where the vehicle was manufactured that dictated whether the brake system was four rods with a single cross shaft or four rods with a double cross shaft or a six rod system, but rather where the vehicle was sold and the brake requirements of that jurisdiction. No North American jurisdiction required that the hand brake operation be on the rear brakes only or that the hand brakes be separate from the foot-operated brakes, but the countries that Ford exported to from both Canada and the U.S. did have such varying brake system requirements hence the existence of three distinctly different brake system designs in each model year of the mechanical brake era.

07-19-2018, 07:29 AM	#8
Jembow Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Spalding, United Kingdom Posts: 306	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? I'm confused. Why did the Model A get a complete brake makeover, even down to seperate handbrake shoes? All the books say it was several States declared the original system, using same rods & shoes, to be illegal.

07-19-2018, 03:56 PM	#9
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? Evidently four years later the objections by some states had been addressed/eliminated.

07-19-2018, 05:52 PM	#10
FlatheadTed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 4,705	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? I think the early AR had a system were if one rod dropped of the other three don't work .split equaliser ,Ted __________________ http://www.flatheadted.com Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

07-21-2018, 10:52 AM	#11
Jembow Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Spalding, United Kingdom Posts: 306	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? I have an AR. All 4 rods are firmly fixed to a solid cross shaft - 1 falls off, all the others work. The footbrake pulls on that crossbar with a rod, I thought the objection was the handbrake uses that same rod, so if THAT fails, there is no alternative emergency brake.. How does this vary from the V8 system?

07-21-2018, 12:40 PM	#12
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? It's basically the same, namely if both the pedal and the hand brake handle become disconnected from the cross shaft, you have no brakes. That's a pretty big "if"; right up there with the same "if" for the later Model A system with separate hand brakes (where there would still be a complete brake failure if two disconnections took place).

07-21-2018, 04:59 PM	#13
FlatheadTed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 4,705	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? Your AR must have been changed to a one piece , they became illegal I think first in OHIO E=Jembow;1653780]I have an AR. All 4 rods are firmly fixed to a solid cross shaft - 1 falls off, all the others work. The footbrake pulls on that crossbar with a rod, I thought the objection was the handbrake uses that same rod, so if THAT fails, there is no alternative emergency brake.. How does this vary from the V8 system?[/QUOTE] __________________ http://www.flatheadted.com Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

07-21-2018, 05:25 PM	#14
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? While it is a different rod (one for the pedal and another for the hand brake), it is the same cross shaft and the same four rods to the brake backing plates.

07-21-2018, 06:15 PM	#15
FlatheadTed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 4,705	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? Part of the scrutiny of the Model A hand brake system would have included the overhall of the AR system .The split equaliser evens out rod tension so if a rod drop of a wheel it swings to that wheel and your left with nothing ,Ted __________________ http://www.flatheadted.com Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

07-23-2018, 05:20 PM	#16
Viv W Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Harare Zimbabwe Posts: 160	Re: Adjusting 1935 dual rear brake rods?? Hi All, Thanks for all the input. I adjusted the service brakes as suggested, by using the American style 4 rod braking system and then did the handbrake rods. The handbrake rods are virtually a reversal of the service brake rods and when adjusted have about the same clearance from the clevis pin to the slip link. Anyway it all seems to work, which is the main thing. Still need to do a lot more things before I fire it up and take it for a road test, then off for upholstery. Regards Viv.