Just rec a set of brake shoes for my 39 ford r/e. The original shoes had the short shoe on the ft, larger one on the rear. The shoes I rec were both the same. Can these be used this way? Thanks, jim
The 39-48 Ford Lockheed brake was designed to have the LONGER shoe on the front - it will do most of the braking. I've frequently seen them installed backwards (due to folks being used to self-energising Bendix style brakes - which are the opposite). I would want the shoes the way that Ford designed them - you need all the braking you can get and having the longer surface area of the longer front shoe helps.
The T bucket in my picture had same length linings at all 4 corners, stopped really well due to the extra surface area.
On every old GM with drum brakes that I have ever had, I buy 2 sets of shoes, and put all long shoes all the way around. It does make an improvement. Those shoes are cheap though so it was no big deal to do that with out spending big money for brakes. If the ones you have all have the same size lining, as long as they are the same as the long shoe, id run them. you wont have issues, just more friction area.
I agree with the above posts that say 2 long shoes OK. But if the shoes have one shoe with harder lining material than the other, then I would put the soft lining on the rear side. To me it seems that would tend to equalize the lining wear since the front shoe does most of the stopping. But if possible, ask the manufacturer of the linings.
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