The Ford Barn

Mike/Nebraska · 08-10-2023, 04:05 PM

I'm putting a speedster and still gathering parts. I want to use hydraulic brakes on one end. Would they work better on the front or the rear?

old31 · 08-10-2023, 05:13 PM

I would put them in the front, but why hydraulic. A perfectly adjusted mechanical system will stop as good as hydraulic. If you are installing a single cylinder master and it dies, your dead.

I could loose 1 brake rod and it will still stop.

If you want to get people talking about your speedster, then let them look at a mechanical brake system on a speedster. The younger generations have no clue what it is.

Synchro909 · 08-10-2023, 06:42 PM

IMO, the original mechanical brakes will be plenty good enough for such a light car as a speedster. If the brakes are too "good" they are no good. You don't want to be locking one end of the car too early and adjusting them will no be as easy as I think you expect.

nkaminar · 08-10-2023, 07:05 PM

The mechanical brakes on my heavy 1930 Fordor stop the car with authority. I have the Flat Head Ted floaters and have the brakes biased towards the front. However, I am careful not to use the brakes continuously down a long grade. The cast iron drums help in this regard but why push it.

31Tudor · 08-10-2023, 07:58 PM

I have mechanical brakes on my speedster and mechanical brakes will lock up in a heartbeat. As already mentioned speedsters are pretty light. One the wheels are skidding whether it be mechanical or hydraulic, you are along for the ride.

henry's 31 · 08-10-2023, 08:45 PM

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Hi 31 Tudor:

Very nice Speedster as your Avatar.
Could you post a photo of it. I will be putting one together in the near future.

Charlie Stephens · 08-11-2023, 01:35 PM

If I was my vehicle I would use brakes on all 4 wheels, the ’39 to ’48 ford brakes would be the least expensive. Using the wide bolt pattern wheels from 1939 might result in an interesting look. The ’40-’48 are 5 of 5 ½ and there a lot more wheel choices. If you run Model A wheels (or other Ford wire wheels through 1935 including aftermarket such as bent spoke Kelseys [my favorite])on these brakes be sure to use spacers (see http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...=1#post1286293).

Another problem that hasn’t been brought up yet. If you were involved in an accident/lawsuit with two wheel brakes the first words out of the opposing lawyer’s mouth would be “Of course he couldn’t stop in time, he only has brakes on two wheels".

Charllie Stephens

Synchro909 · 08-11-2023, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

If I was my vehicle I would use brakes on all 4 wheels, the ’39 to ’48 ford brakes would be the least expensive. Using the wide bolt pattern wheels from 1939 might result in an interesting look. The ’40-’48 are 5 of 5 ½ and there a lot more wheel choices. If you run Model A wheels (or other Ford wire wheels through 1935 including aftermarket such as bent spoke Kelseys [my favorite])on these brakes be sure to use spacers (see https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...=1#post1286293).

Another problem that hasn’t been brought up yet. If you were involved in an accident/lawsuit with two wheel brakes the first words out of the opposing lawyer’s mouth would be “Of course he couldn’t stop in time, he only has brakes on two wheels".

Charllie Stephens

I think Mike was talking about hydraulic brakes on the front and mechanical on the back = four wheel brakes.

Charlie Stephens · 08-12-2023, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I think Mike was talking about hydraulic brakes on the front and mechanical on the back = four wheel brakes.

You may be right but I assumed he was going to leave one axle without brakes. Whaat do you say Mike?

Charlie Stephens

Jim Brierley · 08-12-2023, 10:56 AM

Why is it that when a guy asks a question, about brakes or anything else, people don't just answer the question? He asked about hydraulics on the front or rear, not a word about mechanicals. It sounds like he has already made up his mind, why try to change it???

Dodge · 08-13-2023, 01:16 AM

If it is only on one end it will have to be the rears. Many cars built before the Model A only
had rear wheel brakes.
Better control of the car under braking with them on the rear only.

updraught · 08-13-2023, 02:57 AM

Yeah, the old thinking was that if the front brakes lock up you lose steering. A bit like we were told as kids not to have front brakes on your bike as you will go over the handle bars.

Mike/Nebraska · 09-24-2023, 07:47 PM

Actually I wondered what hydraulic brake set up will work on a Model A rear end.

08-10-2023, 04:05 PM	#1
Mike/Nebraska Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern, Nebraska Posts: 354	brakes on a speedster I'm putting a speedster and still gathering parts. I want to use hydraulic brakes on one end. Would they work better on the front or the rear?

08-10-2023, 05:13 PM	#2
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,103	Re: brakes on a speedster I would put them in the front, but why hydraulic. A perfectly adjusted mechanical system will stop as good as hydraulic. If you are installing a single cylinder master and it dies, your dead. I could loose 1 brake rod and it will still stop. If you want to get people talking about your speedster, then let them look at a mechanical brake system on a speedster. The younger generations have no clue what it is.

08-10-2023, 06:42 PM	#3
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: brakes on a speedster IMO, the original mechanical brakes will be plenty good enough for such a light car as a speedster. If the brakes are too "good" they are no good. You don't want to be locking one end of the car too early and adjusting them will no be as easy as I think you expect. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

08-10-2023, 07:05 PM	#4
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,897	Re: brakes on a speedster The mechanical brakes on my heavy 1930 Fordor stop the car with authority. I have the Flat Head Ted floaters and have the brakes biased towards the front. However, I am careful not to use the brakes continuously down a long grade. The cast iron drums help in this regard but why push it. __________________ 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.

08-10-2023, 07:58 PM	#5
31Tudor Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 611	Re: brakes on a speedster I have mechanical brakes on my speedster and mechanical brakes will lock up in a heartbeat. As already mentioned speedsters are pretty light. One the wheels are skidding whether it be mechanical or hydraulic, you are along for the ride.

08-10-2023, 08:45 PM	#6
henry's 31 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Columbus(Cataula) Georgia Posts: 849	Re: brakes on a speedster Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Hi 31 Tudor: Very nice Speedster as your Avatar. Could you post a photo of it. I will be putting one together in the near future. __________________ Henry' s 31

08-11-2023, 01:35 PM	#7
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,033	Re: brakes on a speedster If I was my vehicle I would use brakes on all 4 wheels, the ’39 to ’48 ford brakes would be the least expensive. Using the wide bolt pattern wheels from 1939 might result in an interesting look. The ’40-’48 are 5 of 5 ½ and there a lot more wheel choices. If you run Model A wheels (or other Ford wire wheels through 1935 including aftermarket such as bent spoke Kelseys [my favorite])on these brakes be sure to use spacers (see http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...=1#post1286293). Another problem that hasn’t been brought up yet. If you were involved in an accident/lawsuit with two wheel brakes the first words out of the opposing lawyer’s mouth would be “Of course he couldn’t stop in time, he only has brakes on two wheels". Charllie Stephens

08-12-2023, 10:56 AM	#10
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,089	Re: brakes on a speedster Why is it that when a guy asks a question, about brakes or anything else, people don't just answer the question? He asked about hydraulics on the front or rear, not a word about mechanicals. It sounds like he has already made up his mind, why try to change it???

08-13-2023, 01:16 AM	#11
Dodge Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sonoma, CA. Posts: 1,497	Re: brakes on a speedster If it is only on one end it will have to be the rears. Many cars built before the Model A only had rear wheel brakes. Better control of the car under braking with them on the rear only.

08-13-2023, 02:57 AM	#12
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 1,971	Re: brakes on a speedster Yeah, the old thinking was that if the front brakes lock up you lose steering. A bit like we were told as kids not to have front brakes on your bike as you will go over the handle bars.

09-24-2023, 07:47 PM	#13
Mike/Nebraska Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern, Nebraska Posts: 354	Re: brakes on a speedster Actually I wondered what hydraulic brake set up will work on a Model A rear end.