The Ford Barn

Ordsgt · 02-06-2021, 01:55 PM

On my 1930 Tudor I had put new everything on the front brakes. Braking is not very good. Going through the linkage I found that the right front lever disconnected from the linkage has free travel almost to the top or 12 o'clock position. I can hear a metal piece dropping as I do this I am assuming that it is the brake operating rod. They are all new rods and I didn't install any "pills" I am guessing that is the slop the pills take care of. The left brake has about 1/4 inch slack. How much should there be. Both brakes had been adjusted to a drag then backed off 3 clicks. New drums, shoes, springs ,tracks , and rods

1931 flamingo · 02-06-2021, 02:11 PM

I don't think there should be any lost motion. Did you put in new rods?? Arc the shoes to the drums?? New drums??
Paul in CT

Ordsgt · 02-06-2021, 02:20 PM

Everything was new. So the pill is supposed to be inserted to take away the play or slop in the operating lever?

wwirz · 02-06-2021, 04:03 PM

Paul Shinn has a nice video on YOUTUBE concerning brake adjustment. Other videos are on YOUTUBE as well. Take a look at some of these.

nkaminar · 02-06-2021, 06:39 PM

This is a good question. This has always been confusing to me. You can set the lever at 15 degrees with the rod adjustment and then adjust the brakes so that they rub and then back off the adjustment one or two clicks. So how would the lever be anything other than 15 degrees. If you cannot adjust the brakes to drag at 15 degrees lever position, then yes, add a pill or two and start over. Or should the lever be at 15 degrees with the rod disconnected and the adjustment backed all the way off?

Jack Shaft · 02-06-2021, 08:07 PM

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The reason you use a pill or shim to set 15° forward is so the lever is at full leverage (vertical) with the brake applied..thats what the book says,old farmer way is to pull the pin and gently push the lever to apply (just take the slack out of it) then shorten the rod so the pin fits..which ever way you choose repeat at both sides..any slack in the brake foundation ( the gizmos in the backing plate) will affect application.

Ordsgt · 02-06-2021, 08:20 PM

added 2 shims to right front and 1 shim to left front. There is no play in the lever now. I now have brakes. Need a little more fine tuning but able to lock up on gravel, which it wouldn't do before. Stops well on pavement. Will do more testing in the daytime Sunday

Jack Shaft · 02-06-2021, 08:53 PM

Get yourself a set of flathead teds brake floaters...take it from an old seabee, they work

HD Rider · 02-06-2021, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwirz

Paul Shinn has a nice video on YOUTUBE concerning brake adjustment. Other videos are on YOUTUBE as well. Take a look at some of these.

I was going to mention this. He has a lot of good videos.

Ordsgt · 02-06-2021, 10:19 PM

I watched a number of videos but none mentioned the pill or shim as to when they were needed or how many? I didn't think I would need them as everything was brand new. Glad I had purchased some.

Patrick L. · 02-07-2021, 07:59 AM

I don't like the pills. I prefer to weld and file the ends to proper length.

02-06-2021, 01:55 PM	#1
Ordsgt Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Yorktown Virginia Posts: 180	Brake adjust On my 1930 Tudor I had put new everything on the front brakes. Braking is not very good. Going through the linkage I found that the right front lever disconnected from the linkage has free travel almost to the top or 12 o'clock position. I can hear a metal piece dropping as I do this I am assuming that it is the brake operating rod. They are all new rods and I didn't install any "pills" I am guessing that is the slop the pills take care of. The left brake has about 1/4 inch slack. How much should there be. Both brakes had been adjusted to a drag then backed off 3 clicks. New drums, shoes, springs ,tracks , and rods

02-06-2021, 02:11 PM	#2
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,389	Re: Brake adjust I don't think there should be any lost motion. Did you put in new rods?? Arc the shoes to the drums?? New drums?? Paul in CT

02-06-2021, 02:20 PM	#3
Ordsgt Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Yorktown Virginia Posts: 180	Re: Brake adjust Everything was new. So the pill is supposed to be inserted to take away the play or slop in the operating lever?

02-06-2021, 04:03 PM	#4
wwirz Senior Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Corning NY Posts: 244	Re: Brake adjust Paul Shinn has a nice video on YOUTUBE concerning brake adjustment. Other videos are on YOUTUBE as well. Take a look at some of these.

02-06-2021, 06:39 PM	#5
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,893	Re: Brake adjust This is a good question. This has always been confusing to me. You can set the lever at 15 degrees with the rod adjustment and then adjust the brakes so that they rub and then back off the adjustment one or two clicks. So how would the lever be anything other than 15 degrees. If you cannot adjust the brakes to drag at 15 degrees lever position, then yes, add a pill or two and start over. Or should the lever be at 15 degrees with the rod disconnected and the adjustment backed all the way off? __________________ 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.

02-06-2021, 08:07 PM	#6
Jack Shaft BANNED Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 1,196	Re: Brake adjust Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The reason you use a pill or shim to set 15° forward is so the lever is at full leverage (vertical) with the brake applied..thats what the book says,old farmer way is to pull the pin and gently push the lever to apply (just take the slack out of it) then shorten the rod so the pin fits..which ever way you choose repeat at both sides..any slack in the brake foundation ( the gizmos in the backing plate) will affect application.

02-06-2021, 08:20 PM	#7
Ordsgt Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Yorktown Virginia Posts: 180	Re: Brake adjust added 2 shims to right front and 1 shim to left front. There is no play in the lever now. I now have brakes. Need a little more fine tuning but able to lock up on gravel, which it wouldn't do before. Stops well on pavement. Will do more testing in the daytime Sunday

02-06-2021, 08:53 PM	#8
Jack Shaft BANNED Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 1,196	Re: Brake adjust Get yourself a set of flathead teds brake floaters...take it from an old seabee, they work

02-06-2021, 10:19 PM	#10
Ordsgt Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Yorktown Virginia Posts: 180	Re: Brake adjust I watched a number of videos but none mentioned the pill or shim as to when they were needed or how many? I didn't think I would need them as everything was brand new. Glad I had purchased some.

02-07-2021, 07:59 AM	#11
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Brake adjust I don't like the pills. I prefer to weld and file the ends to proper length.

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