Front Brake Floater problem

[Ken B]

I was wondering if anyone else that has installed the front brake floating kits (not Ted's) that are offered by the parts suppliers. I have installed three of these kits now on my three cars and have noticed a problem with the last one. After a few hundred miles of great braking, I began to notice that both the front brakes would bind and not release smoothly. Upon inspection I noticed that the pin that "floats" inside the wedge bolt had mushroomed out enough on both sides that it didn't slide back and forth freely anymore. I also noticed that the heads of the reproduction roller pins are about 7 to 8 thousands wider in diameter than a good original. My roller tracks have been welded and machined back to factory specs. With the bigger diameter heads the brake shoes seemed to ride on the roller tracks much harder. I filed down the floater pins and replaced the reproduction roller pins with two good originals I had left over from previous projects. The brakes grab very well now. Is it possible that the bigger diameter roller pin heads were that start of the problem. Or is the floater pin made of too soft of material, or both? Thanks in advance for any replies. Ken B.

[marc hildebrant]

Ken,

Would one of those cars with the floaters be a 1931 Tudor ?

Marc

[Ken B]

I am pretty sure I put a set on the Tudor. If you could, email me all of your contact info as I lost it all when our last computer crashed.

[quickchange]

Buy a set of Teds Floaters , Made in NZ they are magic, I have been completly happy with them, Derek From the still shaking island, over 1400 aftershocks in 4 weeks,

[redmodelt]

Unless you feel the need to post it here, could you send me a pm and let me know where you got the floaters and rest of hardware from. We have installed a few sets and have a few more to install.
Thanks

[Russ/40]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I don't understand how the pins could get mushroomed, as they don't really carry much load. When I installed mine, I found I had to resize the pins to enable them to move freely side to side. Did you notice any tight fit on installation? I don't think mine would have worked correctly without my intervention.

[redmodelt]

Re my post, I understand that the retail seller may not make the parts but it would be good to contact them and see if there have been other reported problems. It may have been the case that the pins were not harden correctly for the floaters.

[Jim Parker Toronto]

The pins probably were not hardened properly. I have seen this several times in the last few brake jobs I have done. Just go with what Henry designed, it will lock your wheels everytime. IMO, the floaters are a gimmic, I don't think Henry would have approved of these!

[redmodelt]

Well, if they are a gimmick, they have been around for a "LOOOOONG" time.

[Ken B]

I looked at another floater kit that I have and the float pin is shiney just like the ones that mushroomed out on me. I looked at another kit that a friend has and the float pins are dark, almost black. Maybe the black ones are hardened properly?????

[redmodelt]

Ken that could be. The ones I checked with the file were dark.

[jerry shook]

I ordered a set from flat head ted put them on a coupe they work great. Bought a set of out law floaters from a model a parts store .that was 6 months back i am still trying to get them to work. I dont know the difference ,but it is obvious there is a difference.

[tiquer]

Originally Posted by Jim Parker Toronto

The pins probably were not hardened properly. I have seen this several times in the last few brake jobs I have done. Just go with what Henry designed, it will lock your wheels everytime. IMO, the floaters are a gimmic, I don't think Henry would have approved of these!

I think if Henry had it his way we would all still be driving Model Ts

[wilfbrad]

I've just ordered the kit from Snyders the 25001-f kit.
Having read thru some of the strings on this install, does one leave the top long sprin off when installing this kit?
1929 coupe

[wilfbrad]

Does one leave the top long spring off when the 25001-F kit is installed?

[alexiskai]

Let this zombie thread rest in peace and start a new one.

[Jack Shaft]

Yes you leave the top spring off,the adjuster pins need to slide easily as well.