The Ford Barn

Bruce · 08-13-2012, 01:38 PM

A month ago I installed new wheel bearings and cones and Flathead Ted's Brake Floaters in our Roadster. It was not a tough job and I like the way she (Emma) responded to the attention. She stops great. We had about 250 miles of trouble-free fun with the Ted's-equipped brakes.
However, I did not like what the sloppy brake MEchanic did to the car's whitewall tires. They were smudged and finger-printed with grease (the good, red stuff). So a week ago I PUSHED the car out of the garage and sprayed the tires with Harley Davidson whitewall cleaner. Then I scrubbed 'em clean with one of Jan's nylon dish scrubbers and rinsed them thouroghly. And I pushed the car back into the garage. Good job done.
Four days later I ATTEMPTED to push the car out -- something I usually do so as not to bump doors in the closely-packed Model A shrine that is our garage.
Emma would not move.
I checked to make sure the pb was off and that the trans was in neutral. Both were in the "let's go" position. But the car was anchored in place in the garage.
I concluded that those New Zealand parts had somehow gotten cocked or unsprung or jammed. Or I had tightened an axle nut too tightly and had ruined the new bearings.
Darn!
So I took off a wheel and drum. I disassembled the brakes, inspected the pieces, and put it all back together. The wheel spun nicely. Pulled the jack stands out and dropped the jack.
The car was transfixed AGAIN!
So I did the exercise once more. (I'm getting pretty good with the Floater installation). Dropped the car down again and it still wouldn't budge.
So, logically, I assumed it must be the driver's side wheel. Same exercise. Same result.
I quit for the night.
Saturday morning I woke up thinking about those little pills in the brake operating wedges. Maybe they were jammed sideways. After a cup of coffee I took a brake apart for the FIFTH time.
Pills were fine.
(I know that this is getting long, but it is a true story and you might save yourself a lot of work by hearing me out).
Car still wouldn't be pushed.
So, in disgust, I started it up and tried rocking it with the clutch. Forward. Back. Forward.
Nope. Some invisable force had Emma in irons. She wouldn't -- couldn't -- leave the garage.
So I did what any disallusioned Ford guy would do. I reved up the engine and dumped the clutch.
BAM!
And she rolled back as pretty as you please. Not even a hint of hesitation. I applied the brakes and she stopped. So I took a little test run.
Perfect. (I apologize, Ted, for blaming the Kiwi's.)
You've probably guessed that the whitewall cleaner and rinse had glued the brake shoes to the drums. Nasty, quick acting corrosion.
And you might be right.
But I'm not sure ... and Emma's not saying.

J Franklin · 08-13-2012, 02:14 PM

Maybe not! If you jacked it up and checked and the wheel then spun ok, and then it wouldn't budge after you let it off the jack it wasn't the cleaner residue. I am scratching my head tho. Maybe a rod hanging up or an internal part not fully releasing would be more plausible.

V4F · 08-13-2012, 04:55 PM

i use SOS pads with the soap . does a great job .

Phred · 08-13-2012, 05:11 PM

That's the trouble with those whitewalls, they can be the cause of all kinds of trouble. Hansel has blackwalls, never had any problems with the brakes!

charlesea · 08-13-2012, 06:56 PM

I use a n item called "Awesome" available at Dollar General or Dollar Tree. $1.00 a spray bottle. The white wall really shines. I use sparingly & rinse off immedately.

1931 flamingo · 08-14-2012, 08:49 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

"AWESOME" is truly amazing ! ! ! On anything. JMO

Paul in CT

BILL WILLIAMSON · 08-14-2012, 02:27 PM

Ponder this: Wonder how many WEIRD brake noises, either drum or disc, were caused by severe wheel/tire cleaners?? Bill W.

Chris in WNC · 08-16-2012, 09:14 AM

SOS pads worked best when we had whitewalls on our '37 Plymouth.

"Emma" is actually giving you this message: "I want blackwall tires, please"

Ron Lowe · 08-16-2012, 09:39 AM

I've been using Harley Davidson cleaner for years and never a problem on my A or my bike. Other than the fact it's the best I've used it's also very friendly on the paint,chrome and anything else. I just don't think that was the problem. Sounds more like a mechanical problem. Remember the best place to have a problem is in your garage.

08-13-2012, 01:38 PM	#1
Bruce Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sun City West, AZ Posts: 489	Emma balked at having her whitewalls scrubbed. A month ago I installed new wheel bearings and cones and Flathead Ted's Brake Floaters in our Roadster. It was not a tough job and I like the way she (Emma) responded to the attention. She stops great. We had about 250 miles of trouble-free fun with the Ted's-equipped brakes. However, I did not like what the sloppy brake MEchanic did to the car's whitewall tires. They were smudged and finger-printed with grease (the good, red stuff). So a week ago I PUSHED the car out of the garage and sprayed the tires with Harley Davidson whitewall cleaner. Then I scrubbed 'em clean with one of Jan's nylon dish scrubbers and rinsed them thouroghly. And I pushed the car back into the garage. Good job done. Four days later I ATTEMPTED to push the car out -- something I usually do so as not to bump doors in the closely-packed Model A shrine that is our garage. Emma would not move. I checked to make sure the pb was off and that the trans was in neutral. Both were in the "let's go" position. But the car was anchored in place in the garage. I concluded that those New Zealand parts had somehow gotten cocked or unsprung or jammed. Or I had tightened an axle nut too tightly and had ruined the new bearings. Darn! So I took off a wheel and drum. I disassembled the brakes, inspected the pieces, and put it all back together. The wheel spun nicely. Pulled the jack stands out and dropped the jack. The car was transfixed AGAIN! So I did the exercise once more. (I'm getting pretty good with the Floater installation). Dropped the car down again and it still wouldn't budge. So, logically, I assumed it must be the driver's side wheel. Same exercise. Same result. I quit for the night. Saturday morning I woke up thinking about those little pills in the brake operating wedges. Maybe they were jammed sideways. After a cup of coffee I took a brake apart for the FIFTH time. Pills were fine. (I know that this is getting long, but it is a true story and you might save yourself a lot of work by hearing me out). Car still wouldn't be pushed. So, in disgust, I started it up and tried rocking it with the clutch. Forward. Back. Forward. Nope. Some invisable force had Emma in irons. She wouldn't -- couldn't -- leave the garage. So I did what any disallusioned Ford guy would do. I reved up the engine and dumped the clutch. BAM! And she rolled back as pretty as you please. Not even a hint of hesitation. I applied the brakes and she stopped. So I took a little test run. Perfect. (I apologize, Ted, for blaming the Kiwi's.) You've probably guessed that the whitewall cleaner and rinse had glued the brake shoes to the drums. Nasty, quick acting corrosion. And you might be right. But I'm not sure ... and Emma's not saying.

08-13-2012, 02:14 PM	#2
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,959	Re: Emma balked at having her whitewalls scrubbed. Maybe not! If you jacked it up and checked and the wheel then spun ok, and then it wouldn't budge after you let it off the jack it wasn't the cleaner residue. I am scratching my head tho. Maybe a rod hanging up or an internal part not fully releasing would be more plausible.

08-13-2012, 04:55 PM	#3
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,522	Re: Emma balked at having her whitewalls scrubbed. i use SOS pads with the soap . does a great job . __________________ V4f

08-13-2012, 05:11 PM	#4
Phred Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: IL Posts: 303	Re: Emma balked at having her whitewalls scrubbed. That's the trouble with those whitewalls, they can be the cause of all kinds of trouble. Hansel has blackwalls, never had any problems with the brakes!

08-13-2012, 06:56 PM	#5
charlesea Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Montgomery, Al. Posts: 640	Re: Emma balked at having her whitewalls scrubbed. I use a n item called "Awesome" available at Dollar General or Dollar Tree. $1.00 a spray bottle. The white wall really shines. I use sparingly & rinse off immedately.

08-14-2012, 08:49 AM	#6
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Emma balked at having her whitewalls scrubbed. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) "AWESOME" is truly amazing ! ! ! On anything. JMO Paul in CT

08-14-2012, 02:27 PM	#7
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Emma balked at having her whitewalls scrubbed. Ponder this: Wonder how many WEIRD brake noises, either drum or disc, were caused by severe wheel/tire cleaners?? Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

08-16-2012, 09:14 AM	#8
Chris in WNC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spruce Pine, NC Posts: 1,458	Re: Emma balked at having her whitewalls scrubbed. SOS pads worked best when we had whitewalls on our '37 Plymouth. "Emma" is actually giving you this message: "I want blackwall tires, please" __________________ our next Model A is out there in the unknown......

08-16-2012, 09:39 AM	#9
Ron Lowe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 184	Re: Emma balked at having her whitewalls scrubbed. I've been using Harley Davidson cleaner for years and never a problem on my A or my bike. Other than the fact it's the best I've used it's also very friendly on the paint,chrome and anything else. I just don't think that was the problem. Sounds more like a mechanical problem. Remember the best place to have a problem is in your garage.