juice brake question....

I bought a box of old 40-48 juice brake backing plates,drums,and hubs at an estate auction. Some of the backing plates have fixed anchors where the bottom of the brake shoes are retained and some have adjustable pins at the bottom. Which are the best one to use? and which year cars had which ones? Also, some ofthe drums have screw on dust caps and some are press in. I have the later{square) back type spindles..Will all these variations interchange with each other..it looks like it will. Thanks, Dale

 

I don't see much reason to prefer one type over the other--complete backing plates all fit all spindles the same way (adaptors needed for '28-36), all drum types can be used with both types of plate. You do want to match them, though--at very least, same type on both ends of axle, I would be conservative and use 4 of a kind.

Here's an experienced narrative on types and adjustment:

http://www.flatheadv8.org/rumblest/brakes.pdf

 

The adjustable ones are 46-48.

 

No, Joe, the non-adjustable ones are the later years. 39's had adjustable pivots. Not sure when the non-adjusts were introduced.
Mart.

 

I think the adjustable bottoms were up to 42. 46-48 did not have the adjustable bottoms.

 

'39 and '40 passenger and pickups to '41 had the adjustable bottoms. Don't know about the 41 passenger car but I believe it's the same as 42-48 fixed bottom.
I used 41 pickup round spindles and adjustable anchor backing plates on the Rocky 33.....they worked just fine with a stock 41 PU master cylinder.

 

The differences in the backing plates, the early pre-war adjustable pivot-type and the post-war fixed pivot-type, are that the post-war ones were designed for longer shoe-lining-life. The shoe is allowed to move up and down slightly on the non adjustable pivot with each application, centering itself for best position in the drum. The early types require adjustment of both the top and bottom to best position the shoe in the drum. However, as brake-guru Richard Lacy (Early V8 Garage) describes, if kept in perfect adjustment the earlys provide a better positive performance-type stopping as the braking action is 'right now'. The laters need a split second to center the shoe but dont require as much adjustment. So if youre talking about a street car...who cares, either will do. If youre building a vintage racer, earlys would be better...but youd prolly go with Lincolns anyway.

 

Thanks for all the replys. I think We will use the later style fixed locating pin types to save some trouble. All I need to do now is find some new wheel cylinders at a fair price-LOL- Dale