Brake adjustment help

Hey guys,

I need to adjust the brakes on my A roadster. they are 40's style on the front, with the two bolt heads you turn outwards to adjust. The rears are early 50's with a star wheel to adjust.

What i need to know is how much do you adjust them out? I tried to adjust out until i heard the brake pad touching the drum and left it there. But i think there is a slight warp somewhere as it wasnt a continious drag..more like a schh....schh...schh. (someone said this is just the front of the pad hitting) does it need to be adjusted until it drags continuously and if so, how much?

Thanks for helping out!

Danny

 

Go to the msn flathead group http://groups.msn.com/FordFlathead1932to1953
Click on technical

Procedure shown under brakes.

 

hey paul,

thanks for the post... im reading it. sounds more complicated then i hoped for, but im sure i'll get it licked.

danny

 

It sounds like you have a drum out of round. The shoes should give a steady drag if the drums are true. The high spot is hitting. They'll probably pulsate when you hit the brakes.

 

hey guys,

for those who are interested... went through the adjustment process yesterday - adjusted the bottom anchors untill dragging then the tops. made a reasonable amount of difference...but i adjusted the right tighter then the left...it pulls when im braking...so will need to do the left side again to get it even.

dan

 

I got this from a site cant remember where?

Step 1: Loosen the anchor pin large lock nuts (usually 3/4") on both shoes of one wheel just barley enough to permit turning the 1/4" anchor pin adjusters. Now, turn both of the 1/4" adjusters so the locator marks face directly towards each other. This next point is important .... All further adjustments are made by turning the anchor pins (1/4") and eccentric (11/16") downwards.

Step 2: Back off the upper eccentric cam adjusters on both shoes until the wheel rotates freely.

Step 3: Now turn one of the upper eccentric (11/16") until the wheel cannot be turned.

Step 4: Now turn it's 1/4" anchor pin adjuster downward until the wheel just turns freely. This lowers the shoe and moves the toe of the shoe away from the drum and results in fuller shoe contact.

Step 5: Now go back to Step 3 and do it and step 4 again to the same shoe. Repeat as necessary until turning the 1/4" anchor pin adjuster will no longer free up the wheel. Back off both anchor pin adjuster and upper eccentric just enough so the wheel has a slight drag. Tighten the anchor pin lock nut (3/4") without letting the anchor pin adjuster move. Now do the other shoe the same way.

If you've worn the shoes badly at the top, it'll take some time to wear the heel enough so you get full brake shoe contact.
When adjusting brakes, always turn the wheel in the same direction the wheel would turn when the car travels forward.

PS: The 1/4" anchor adjustment bolts require an offset open end wrench about 12" in length to get enough leverage to turn, I think it's a special Ford tool and hard to find.