The Ford Barn

pat in Santa Cruz · 08-02-2010, 11:01 AM

the earlier kits had hard to follow instructions and used a reversed roller pin that could be troublesome if not installed with the cotter pin exactly as designed. But the instructions made it difficult in determining what exactly that was. Consequently, many were installed incorrectly and were not working right. Add to that the general tendency of many guys not to read instructions at all and to "improve" on them, and there were many failures to perform as advertised. If installed correctly, they work very well on a good brake system, reducing the pedal pressure enough to make the brakes very responsive. Now the kit has been improved with the addition of a roller integrated pin to eliminate the cotter pin trouble and much better instructions. The kit will not, however, compensate for worn pins, rod eyes, sloppy pedal bushings, worn cam shaft bushings, un arced shoes , shoes not properly centered, thin or warped drums. I have the original Ford brake system on my station wagon, which has the shoes set up and centered by Bob Rentz, and they work remarkably well. The only difference in stopping power is the pedal pressure and even at that its a very small, but noticeable, difference. But some people want every advantage they can get and with brakes, a good argument can be made for getting that advantage.

08-02-2010, 11:01 AM	#7
pat in Santa Cruz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: santa cruz, calif Posts: 2,012	Re: Mechanical Brakes the earlier kits had hard to follow instructions and used a reversed roller pin that could be troublesome if not installed with the cotter pin exactly as designed. But the instructions made it difficult in determining what exactly that was. Consequently, many were installed incorrectly and were not working right. Add to that the general tendency of many guys not to read instructions at all and to "improve" on them, and there were many failures to perform as advertised. If installed correctly, they work very well on a good brake system, reducing the pedal pressure enough to make the brakes very responsive. Now the kit has been improved with the addition of a roller integrated pin to eliminate the cotter pin trouble and much better instructions. The kit will not, however, compensate for worn pins, rod eyes, sloppy pedal bushings, worn cam shaft bushings, un arced shoes , shoes not properly centered, thin or warped drums. I have the original Ford brake system on my station wagon, which has the shoes set up and centered by Bob Rentz, and they work remarkably well. The only difference in stopping power is the pedal pressure and even at that its a very small, but noticeable, difference. But some people want every advantage they can get and with brakes, a good argument can be made for getting that advantage.