The Ford Barn

Zack · 04-07-2016, 06:39 PM

Perhaps someone can point me in the right direction. I just installed new brake pads in the front, had the roller tracks welded and new drums. I centered the brakes and reinstalled the drums. When I checked the actuating arm to make sure the brakes locked up I noticed that one side moves about 1" and the other about 1/4". At first I thought the pin wasnt seated correctly, it was...I rechecked the roller tracks for 1 5/16, it was close. When I rechecked the centering of the shoes, both sides were right on. I only checked the one side where the lever moved just 1/4" thinking the other side was correct. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated before I pull whats left of my hair out....
Thanks
Zack

1930 coupe

Tom Wesenberg · 04-07-2016, 07:17 PM

Did you adjust each brake until the wheel lock tight, then back off the adjuster a few clicks?

Zack · 04-07-2016, 10:11 PM

Tom: Yes. Can you tell me what the normal travel is for the actuating arm? I'll take apart the other side tomorrow and see if theres any difference. Maybe the roller tracks need to be worked better.

Mike V. Florida · 04-07-2016, 10:26 PM

Is it possible that you have different length rods? Did you use any "pills"? What is the angle of the actuating arm?

Larry Jenkins · 04-07-2016, 11:11 PM

Arms tilt 15 degrees to the front.

Tom Wesenberg · 04-07-2016, 11:26 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Zack

Tom: Yes. Can you tell me what the normal travel is for the actuating arm? I'll take apart the other side tomorrow and see if theres any difference. Maybe the roller tracks need to be worked better.

I've never measured the travel. but with the brakes adjusted correctly, the arm should start moving the brake shoes as soon as it is pulled, so the movement would be very little. Remember, you lightly pull the arm toward the center of the car, and lightly pull the rod away from the center of the car to remove all freeplay, then you adjust the rod clevis so the pin just slips into place.

I have never measured the brake rod length, because it doesn't matter, and it won't apply to another brake rod or car anyway.

Chuck Sea/Tac · 04-08-2016, 12:34 AM

Did you use pills to get the actuating rods at 15°? That takes the slack out.

04-07-2016, 06:39 PM	#1
Zack Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Dover Delaware Posts: 25	Brake actuating arm distance Perhaps someone can point me in the right direction. I just installed new brake pads in the front, had the roller tracks welded and new drums. I centered the brakes and reinstalled the drums. When I checked the actuating arm to make sure the brakes locked up I noticed that one side moves about 1" and the other about 1/4". At first I thought the pin wasnt seated correctly, it was...I rechecked the roller tracks for 1 5/16, it was close. When I rechecked the centering of the shoes, both sides were right on. I only checked the one side where the lever moved just 1/4" thinking the other side was correct. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated before I pull whats left of my hair out.... Thanks Zack 1930 coupe

04-07-2016, 07:17 PM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Brake actuating arm distance Did you adjust each brake until the wheel lock tight, then back off the adjuster a few clicks?

04-07-2016, 10:11 PM	#3
Zack Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Dover Delaware Posts: 25	Re: Brake actuating arm distance Tom: Yes. Can you tell me what the normal travel is for the actuating arm? I'll take apart the other side tomorrow and see if theres any difference. Maybe the roller tracks need to be worked better.

04-07-2016, 10:26 PM	#4
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Brake actuating arm distance Is it possible that you have different length rods? Did you use any "pills"? What is the angle of the actuating arm? __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

04-07-2016, 11:11 PM	#5
Larry Jenkins BANNED Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: East Central Iowa Posts: 1,275	Re: Brake actuating arm distance Arms tilt 15 degrees to the front. __________________ Good enough.. Isn't.

04-08-2016, 12:34 AM	#7
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Brake actuating arm distance Did you use pills to get the actuating rods at 15°? That takes the slack out.