The Ford Barn

terabytemc · 05-27-2023, 04:11 PM

I bought my 30' Model A with hydraulic brakes already installed, I'm having trouble with the L rear brake shoe hitting the drum and getting hot. I put in a new shim to get the drum off the backing plate, which did help free up the wheel before it wouldn't spin at all. Besides the 2 adjustments on the bottom section of the backing plate is there another adjustment for the shoes?

nkaminar · 05-27-2023, 04:37 PM

Depends on what year the backing plate were made. On the later brakes there are two cams midway on the shoes that move the shoes in nearer to the drums. Look for those.

Jim Brierley · 05-28-2023, 12:35 PM

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There are 2 bolts, 3/4" head with heavy springs under them, about 2/3rds of the way up the backer. These adjust the upper part of the shoes. Bring them out until the shoes drag, then loosen them just a tad and adjust the lower pivots, work top and bottom until both are as far out as possible without shoe drag. Those adjustable anchors at the bottom were on the '39 - '42 brakes, later brakes were self adjusting at the bottom. It is common on the rear to need axle shims to space the drums out a bit. After the above procedure is accomplished, no further adjustment is needed at the bottom.

05-27-2023, 04:11 PM	#1
terabytemc Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: Northern California Posts: 13	Brake shoe rubbing on drum I bought my 30' Model A with hydraulic brakes already installed, I'm having trouble with the L rear brake shoe hitting the drum and getting hot. I put in a new shim to get the drum off the backing plate, which did help free up the wheel before it wouldn't spin at all. Besides the 2 adjustments on the bottom section of the backing plate is there another adjustment for the shoes?

05-27-2023, 04:37 PM	#2
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,897	Re: Brake shoe rubbing on drum Depends on what year the backing plate were made. On the later brakes there are two cams midway on the shoes that move the shoes in nearer to the drums. Look for those. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

05-28-2023, 12:35 PM	#3
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,088	Re: Brake shoe rubbing on drum Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) There are 2 bolts, 3/4" head with heavy springs under them, about 2/3rds of the way up the backer. These adjust the upper part of the shoes. Bring them out until the shoes drag, then loosen them just a tad and adjust the lower pivots, work top and bottom until both are as far out as possible without shoe drag. Those adjustable anchors at the bottom were on the '39 - '42 brakes, later brakes were self adjusting at the bottom. It is common on the rear to need axle shims to space the drums out a bit. After the above procedure is accomplished, no further adjustment is needed at the bottom.