Features Mechanical Brakes vs. San Francisco

Congrats on keeping it stock! I do miss the days of self adjusting brakes! On the daily driver the brakes were causing a wobble in the front end which my mechanic said was due to warped rotors, he asked if I'm hard on my brakes and I said only when the knuckleheads in front of me slam on their brakes to cross over three lanes cause they didn't see the exit because they were on their phone. Warped rotors, ugh they just don't make em like they used to!!! Have a great weekend!

 

Thanks for speaking to what everyone avoids.
It is work, but given the attention that you have, safety is possible.
Enjoy your next 'New' car,

 

Great post and video!

I’ve never used mechanical brakes but I do hear the floater kit and cast iron drums are a real game changer. Can’t wait for you to start driving version 2.0 which should be a whole new world!

 

Yes, mechanical brakes WORK WELL if they are done RIGHT! You did it RIGHT! Well done.

Also, you improved your braking because you are using wider tires, the V8 16" wheels with 6.00 tire, than the original 1930-31 Model A 19" wheels with 4.75/5.00 tires. That's a good thing.

I would leave the Four Banger engine, but I am a Four Banger kind of person!!!!

 

When I first setup my 32 Cabriolet, I went through the brakes (all stock mechanical, though only 5000 miles on the car). With new woven linings, they worked just fine around town and on my limited higher-speed runs. For this type of usage, they are just fine. However, once you get over about 55 MPH, then things get a little dicey and they will fade with multiple hard stops.

When I built my big stroker flathead, I then went to Lincoln/Bendix style hydraulic brakes and purchased most of the hardware from Early V8 garage (Richard Lacey). Anyway, they make really nice kits - down to every last line and bolt - front to back. He had to work with my Lincoln style backing plates - which he did. The new system is a lot better than the mechanical ones for higher speed usage and multiple tops (like in the mountains in Colorado). You'll like your new setup - just keep them adjusted as the Ford stuff is not self-adjusting.

 

I’m often of the mind that most of the horror stories about old cars comes from them being badly maintained.

I’ll be circuit racing a car with mechanical brakes and a blower at the weekend

 

I think back a couple years when I visited Stokers Hot Rod Shop and they had a model highboy roadster that had the complete mechanical brake linkage chrome plated. That car made a know nothing like me very aware of the intricacies of the mechanical brake system. This year it's Jitney Jake's Blue A highboy roadster featured in Rodder's Journal that's doing the same thing. Excellent examples that school many of us as to early Ford engineering.

 

Great article Joey - always thankful for your updates.

I have never seen the car in person, but based on your limited description alone, I suspect you mean this one: https://www.motortrend.com/articles...makes-statement-grand-national-roadster-show/

That build is my north star. I have looked over every image I can find of it and I am jealous you got to see it in person.

 

before about 1915 most cars were chain drive with no brakes, you simply slowed down the chain. Those pioneers were crazy. The REVS Museum has a 1902 that went 76MPH and a 1908 that did 100MPH with no brakes WTH??

 

They did have brakes but not usually on the front wheels.

 

my buddies and I drove up the crookedest street in the world once back around 1980. it was like 3:00 A.M.

 

I had a Speedster with 19” wheels and the first outing was the first Goodguys Scottsdale. Driving back at rush hour with stop light Grand Prix at every intersection, the mechanical brakes started to fad and I ended up blowing the last light! The drums were turned, shoes arced and had Colorado mountain brake bands. This was during a time when you could put hydraulic brakes on an A using original parts at a reasonable price. However, I drive the purists crazy as my hydraulics haven’t leaked ever

 

There is no need for juice brakes on any stock flathead V8, not enough horse power. I put Teds floaters on a couple of my cars (shown). Mechanicals never go flat and they help you think ahead a little bit. I even dropped the front ends on both cars with mechanicals. Just Do it.

 

Right on. I ran original 32 mechanical brakes with Ted's floaters on my previous roadster and also had zero issues with stopping. It was running a stock '37 21 stud and didn't see much highway time so I was fine.

 

At this point, I have built more Mech brake cars recently than hydraulic. Even with my freeway flying 3.27 gears, 75 mph with no issues. I have found it takes some fiddle fucking to get them right, once right its very pleasant. Biggest upgrade for a model A is 32 and up brakes up front. HUGE difference in stopping power and fade.

My banger coupe I sold last year, Mech brakes...



My current 34 Tudor, Mech brakes

 

I was really impressed with the stopping capability of the mechanical brakes on my Model A after I sorted them out (with the floater kit you sent me!). I think in a way they feel better than hydraulics. You can tell in the usual back and forth discourse who's driven on well-sorted mechanical brakes and who hasn't. For as light as these cars are the only real downside is that they are not self adjusting, but that's just an excuse to get out in the garage now and then.

 

I drove my roadster around a bit with mechanical brakes, before going through them only one wheel was doing much, but after rebuilding them they worked wonderfully. On such a light car I think the biggest reasons for moving to juice brakes is so you can lower the front easier and they look cleaner, not just because they stop better.

 

I love the nice, clean cardboard box flattened out to lay your brake parts on. Hah! I have been doing that since I was a kid over 50 years ago. Good on you!
Andy

 

Mechanicals are cool , but I have learned riding the old Harleys with mechanical stuff one must stay on top of maintenance and plan the route , plan the stop . I just love it when sitting on a hill with a hand jammer , and front brake isn’t adjusted tight enough to hold . The Preacher isn’t proud of the words that one will produce .

 

Looks like the Wankerpanzer photo bombed him.

 

Taught the nephews to drive yesterday...in my stock 1918 T
one of them used the conex to stop with.... his pedal confusion and just a transmission drum brake to the rear wheels weren't up to the task
Model A mechanical brakes even poorly adjusted and maintained are such a step above that of a Model T
...good on you for having the desire to use and confidence to run mechanical brakes....
the only way to stop a Model A in my opinion
Carry on Joey....
Larry

 

it’s just creative production of contrast. The great images always have good contrast.

pretty and ugly
Grey and colors
Quality and lack of
Curves and straight lines
2nd grader with a ruler and Henry ford
Large trash bin and a prize

I’d say Joeys got it nailed

 

It is not the crookedest in the world.

It is not even the crookedest in San Francisco.

 

Had a 28 banger hiboy with mechanical brakes, uggghhh.

 

Lombard is known as the Crookedest Street in the World. it does not matter whether it is or not

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It's not, not by a long shot.

Vermont Street is the crookedest in San Francisco.

 

the point is it does not matter.

 

It certainly does to anyone interested in reality.