Model A MECHANICAL brakes?

I have a stock 29A with mechanical brakes. When you apply the brakes they work but as you push a little harder there is a substantial "clunk" that can be heard and felt through the pedal.

If I had to decribe what I thought was happening I'd say it was as if a shoe was loose and rotating a little with the drum.

I have the (front) drums off right now and nothing appears obviously out of place or loose. It seems to be coming from the front. I am not familiar with these early brakes so I wondered if any of you might have a clue of something to look for.

Thanks

Pete

 

You should check all the brake rods and clevises, pivots including the shafts in the backing plates. When I did the brakes on my father-in-laws 30 I found the slides that the shoes slide on ( mounted on the backing plates ) were rough and the shoes would not slide.The shoes would hang up so you didn't know which shoe was going to work. I rebuilt th slides with hard surface rod ( used to hard surface loader buckets) dressed the welds down , re***embled the brakes. There was a 100% improvement in the brake operation. Hpoe this will help.

Lee

 

You should check all the brake rods and clevises, pivots including the shafts in the backing plates. When I did the brakes on my father-in-laws 30 I found the slides that the shoes slide on ( mounted on the backing plates ) were rough and the shoes would not slide.The shoes would hang up so you didn't know which shoe was going to work. I rebuilt the slides with hard surface rod ( used to hard surface loader buckets) dressed the welds down , re***embled the brakes. There was a 100% improvement in the brake operation. Hope this will help.

Lee

 

Thanks Lee. I was hoping to avoid a full rebuild, but that may be what's needed.