Brake adjust
 

On my 1930 Tudor I had put new everything on the front brakes. Braking is not very good. Going through the linkage I found that the right front lever disconnected from the linkage has free travel almost to the top or 12 o'clock position. I can hear a metal piece dropping as I do this I am assuming that it is the brake operating rod. They are all new rods and I didn't install any "pills" I am guessing that is the slop the pills take care of. The left brake has about 1/4 inch slack. How much should there be. Both brakes had been adjusted to a drag then backed off 3 clicks. New drums, shoes, springs ,tracks , and rods

Re: Brake adjust
 

I don't think there should be any lost motion. Did you put in new rods?? Arc the shoes to the drums?? New drums??
Paul in CT

Re: Brake adjust
 

Everything was new. So the pill is supposed to be inserted to take away the play or slop in the operating lever?

Re: Brake adjust
 

Paul Shinn has a nice video on YOUTUBE concerning brake adjustment. Other videos are on YOUTUBE as well. Take a look at some of these.

Re: Brake adjust
 

This is a good question. This has always been confusing to me. You can set the lever at 15 degrees with the rod adjustment and then adjust the brakes so that they rub and then back off the adjustment one or two clicks. So how would the lever be anything other than 15 degrees. If you cannot adjust the brakes to drag at 15 degrees lever position, then yes, add a pill or two and start over. Or should the lever be at 15 degrees with the rod disconnected and the adjustment backed all the way off?

Re: Brake adjust
 

The reason you use a pill or shim to set 15° forward is so the lever is at full leverage (vertical) with the brake applied..thats what the book says,old farmer way is to pull the pin and gently push the lever to apply (just take the slack out of it) then shorten the rod so the pin fits..which ever way you choose repeat at both sides..any slack in the brake foundation ( the gizmos in the backing plate) will affect application.

Re: Brake adjust
 

added 2 shims to right front and 1 shim to left front. There is no play in the lever now. I now have brakes. Need a little more fine tuning but able to lock up on gravel, which it wouldn't do before. Stops well on pavement. Will do more testing in the daytime Sunday

Re: Brake adjust
 

Get yourself a set of flathead teds brake floaters...take it from an old seabee, they work

Re: Brake adjust
 

I was going to mention this. He has a lot of good videos.

Re: Brake adjust
 

I watched a number of videos but none mentioned the pill or shim as to when they were needed or how many? I didn't think I would need them as everything was brand new. Glad I had purchased some.

Re: Brake adjust
 

I don't like the pills. I prefer to weld and file the ends to proper length.