The Ford Barn

Fred K-OR · 03-23-2012, 07:16 PM

My right front wheel brake will grab and squeal. It has been doing it since I rebuilt all the brakes. I have cast iron drums, when I rebuilt I put in all new parts (after market). I tried adjusting it a number of times. What it the typical cause of this problem? I took off the hub today and it seemed like it was wearing more on the "top" of the shoes. Everything seemed to be installed correctly. Could it be---shoes not centered, rods not the right length, or ????

Would appreciate some ideas for this guy that knows little about this sort of thing. Thanks.

30modelA · 03-23-2012, 07:19 PM

try to back off on the adjusting bolt, it may be to tight on that wheel. you can do this with the wheel on and jacked up. spin the wheel while adjusting it until it backs off. leave a little drag on it but not much.

Fred K-OR · 03-23-2012, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 30modelA

try to back off on the adjusting bolt, it may be to tight on that wheel. you can do this with the wheel on and jacked up. spin the wheel while adjusting it until it backs off. leave a little drag on it but not much.

Thanks, I did try that. And I went and re-adjusted all the brakes like Andrews suggested. But it still had the problem. So after that I did back it off a bit and it still had the problem even when I backed it off quite a bit. So I am confused as you can see.

Tom Endy · 03-23-2012, 07:32 PM

A suggestion:

Remove the drum and sand the inside diameter if the drum. Sand the shoes as well. It should remove the squeal. However, if the linings are hard composit it will likely return after a number of miles.

The shoes that Mel Gross supplies are a soft composit and don't seem to develope that problem.

Tom Endy

Patrick L. · 03-23-2012, 07:36 PM

If everything on the backing plate is in good shape and as it should be, then the problem shouldn't be to big.. I line the drum with sand paper and sand the shoes to fit the drum..Then sand or file a taper/chamfer on the ends of the shoes to help eliminate them from grabbing the drum.. As 30 mentioned adjust the shoes with the rod unhooked until they just barely 'scrub', then work the brake lever several times and check that adjustment again.. It may take a couple tries to get it where you want it.. Then adjust the brake rods with an adjustment board.. I'm assuming the drums and shoes are nice and clean..

Fred K-OR · 03-23-2012, 10:15 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks guys. I will have to try some of these ideas. I kind of think maybe the problem is as Patrick mentioned above or it could be the shoes are not centered.

The wife and I are going on a 100 mile drive tomorrow so will have to wait. It is a country drive so maybe not to many characters will pull out in front of us so I have to cram on the brakes.

Tom Wesenberg · 03-23-2012, 10:16 PM

If just the tops of the shoes are wearing, then it sounds like the shoes aren't centered to the drums.

1931 flamingo · 03-23-2012, 10:28 PM

Are the leading and trailing edges of the shoes chamferred??
Paul in CT

Fred K-OR · 03-23-2012, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

If just the tops of the shoes are wearing, then it sounds like the shoes aren't centered to the drums.

Tom, I kind of think this may be the problem. I need to check this.

Fred K-OR · 03-23-2012, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Are the leading and trailing edges of the shoes chamferred??
Paul in CT

Paul they are but maybe not enough.

I just need to spend more time working on this thing.

V4F · 03-24-2012, 09:12 AM

check to see that the brake rod is free . not binding on something .........

Ron in Quincy · 03-24-2012, 10:15 AM

I had the same squeal problem on the front drums on my 30 Coupe. I have steel original drums. The lining on the shoes was bonded and rather hard. I used my Amco Arc Machine and arc the shoes to each front drum. This did not solve the squeal. I relined some shoes with some soft wolven lining, arc the shoes, and this solved the squeal problem.

Ron

Fred K-OR · 03-24-2012, 11:16 AM

I have wolven lining but could try to arc the shoes again along with checking to see if the shoes are centered.

1931 flamingo · 03-24-2012, 01:21 PM

Before going to the trouble and expense of re-arcing the shoes I would try centering what I had. JMO
Paul in CT

Fred K-OR · 03-24-2012, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Before going to the trouble and expense of re-arcing the shoes I would try centering what I had. JMO
Paul in CT

Paul, I think you may be correct. Now have to figure out how to get this done. I understand someone in out club has a tool. So maybe the best way to do it would be to take the backing plate with everything on it to his place and check it out.

1931 flamingo · 03-24-2012, 10:17 PM

Borrow him and the tool to your place! Lot less work. JMO
Paul in CT

Colorado Greg · 03-24-2012, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred K-OR

Paul, I think you may be correct. Now have to figure out how to get this done. I understand someone in out club has a tool. So maybe the best way to do it would be to take the backing plate with everything on it to his place and check it out.

Ummm that won't work as you center everything to either the spindle or axle. You'll have to take the whole car to him or borrow the tool.

Barry B./ Ma. · 03-25-2012, 08:34 AM

Fred, on the 31 sedan I owned I had a grabbing in the right front. I had the simple floaters the suppliers sell and the centering pin was a bit too long and caused a hangup in one shoe. Don't know if you have this setup. I ground a bit off the pin length and it solved the grabbing problem. Check also to see if you have grease on the lining.

03-23-2012, 07:16 PM	#1
Fred K-OR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stayton, Oregon Posts: 3,806	Brake problem question My right front wheel brake will grab and squeal. It has been doing it since I rebuilt all the brakes. I have cast iron drums, when I rebuilt I put in all new parts (after market). I tried adjusting it a number of times. What it the typical cause of this problem? I took off the hub today and it seemed like it was wearing more on the "top" of the shoes. Everything seemed to be installed correctly. Could it be---shoes not centered, rods not the right length, or ???? Would appreciate some ideas for this guy that knows little about this sort of thing. Thanks. __________________ Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster

03-23-2012, 07:19 PM	#2
30modelA Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: sherwood arkansas Posts: 83	Re: Brake problem question try to back off on the adjusting bolt, it may be to tight on that wheel. you can do this with the wheel on and jacked up. spin the wheel while adjusting it until it backs off. leave a little drag on it but not much.

03-23-2012, 07:32 PM	#4
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,131	Re: Brake problem question A suggestion: Remove the drum and sand the inside diameter if the drum. Sand the shoes as well. It should remove the squeal. However, if the linings are hard composit it will likely return after a number of miles. The shoes that Mel Gross supplies are a soft composit and don't seem to develope that problem. Tom Endy

03-23-2012, 07:36 PM	#5
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Brake problem question If everything on the backing plate is in good shape and as it should be, then the problem shouldn't be to big.. I line the drum with sand paper and sand the shoes to fit the drum..Then sand or file a taper/chamfer on the ends of the shoes to help eliminate them from grabbing the drum.. As 30 mentioned adjust the shoes with the rod unhooked until they just barely 'scrub', then work the brake lever several times and check that adjustment again.. It may take a couple tries to get it where you want it.. Then adjust the brake rods with an adjustment board.. I'm assuming the drums and shoes are nice and clean..

03-23-2012, 10:15 PM	#6
Fred K-OR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stayton, Oregon Posts: 3,806	Re: Brake problem question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks guys. I will have to try some of these ideas. I kind of think maybe the problem is as Patrick mentioned above or it could be the shoes are not centered. The wife and I are going on a 100 mile drive tomorrow so will have to wait. It is a country drive so maybe not to many characters will pull out in front of us so I have to cram on the brakes. __________________ Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster

03-23-2012, 10:16 PM	#7
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Brake problem question If just the tops of the shoes are wearing, then it sounds like the shoes aren't centered to the drums.

03-23-2012, 10:28 PM	#8
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Brake problem question Are the leading and trailing edges of the shoes chamferred?? Paul in CT

03-24-2012, 09:12 AM	#11
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,522	Re: Brake problem question check to see that the brake rod is free . not binding on something ......... __________________ V4f

03-24-2012, 10:15 AM	#12
Ron in Quincy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Quincy, CA. Posts: 1,708	Re: Brake problem question I had the same squeal problem on the front drums on my 30 Coupe. I have steel original drums. The lining on the shoes was bonded and rather hard. I used my Amco Arc Machine and arc the shoes to each front drum. This did not solve the squeal. I relined some shoes with some soft wolven lining, arc the shoes, and this solved the squeal problem. Ron

03-24-2012, 11:16 AM	#13
Fred K-OR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stayton, Oregon Posts: 3,806	Re: Brake problem question I have wolven lining but could try to arc the shoes again along with checking to see if the shoes are centered. __________________ Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster

03-24-2012, 01:21 PM	#14
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Brake problem question Before going to the trouble and expense of re-arcing the shoes I would try centering what I had. JMO Paul in CT

03-24-2012, 10:17 PM	#16
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Brake problem question Borrow him and the tool to your place! Lot less work. JMO Paul in CT

03-25-2012, 08:34 AM	#18
Barry B./ Ma. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southbridge, Ma. Posts: 1,614	Re: Brake problem question Fred, on the 31 sedan I owned I had a grabbing in the right front. I had the simple floaters the suppliers sell and the centering pin was a bit too long and caused a hangup in one shoe. Don't know if you have this setup. I ground a bit off the pin length and it solved the grabbing problem. Check also to see if you have grease on the lining.