This might be a shot in the dark question. Does anyone still make or sell riveted early 40's ford brake shoes? I only ask because after running them on my 32 for years they had to be replaced and the bonded brake shoes I had to replace them with just don't stop as well. These are for my front brakes. Also the bonded brake shoes had to sanded to be the right contour of the inside of my Buick drums.
Generally the arc of the shoe needs to be ground to fit used brake drums. I don't know anyone selling riveted shoes. I've been buying and hoarding nos relined shoes for years. If you can find someone that still relines shoes, you could have yours done. Which is what I try and do. The new shoes are complete garbage in my opinion.
I recall reading that some of the reproduction shoes had holes in the wrong location so be careful. I think I would find a set brake shoe cores and have them relined. Charlie Stephens
Get them relined (glued) at Brake Warehouse in Minneapolis. Ask them for the softest compound. Tell them the exact diameter of each drum and they will arc them perfectly for you. The result will be the best stopping you can get with those brakes.
I recently had to arc the shoes on a brand new nine inch ford because they were only wearing at the top of the shoe. I did it with stick on 36 grit sandpaper.
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