I know there is prob posts in the archives about this, but I havent learned how to find that stuff yet. I have decided to stay with drum brakes on the front of my 35 Dodge truck that I am building to be somewhat traditional in my own way. I am looking for advice on the pros and cons of the original style 41 Ford brakes on the front,versus 39 Lincoln self energizing brakes. How often and how hard is it to adjust the 41 Brakes? I hear that you have to stay on them alot. I can save $200 by running them over the 39 Lincoln brakes. Is it worth the extra to get them? I know alot of you guys have already been down this path,so any feedback is appriciated.
Self energizing brakes was a Bendix exclusive patent .The story as I think I read somewhere was.Frugal Henry Ford refused to pay the royalty to Bendix (pennies) to use it on his lower priced cars. But was forced to on the Lincolns. They were heavier and more expensive. and the Ford cars suffered for it. Self energizing brakes have the bottom of the shoe ***embly loose and as the drum rotates the twisting action of the drum forces the brake shoes to rotate and increase the pressure against the drum. this makes it easier on the leg. so if I was you I would use the self enegizing brakes. Ago
You going to be driving 1-2 K miles a month ? If so you will get to adjust your brakes IF you use them hard and a lot maybe once a month. BFD !!
Self energizing doesn't mean self adjusting, as ago said they make the pedal force less but if you have drum brakes and you drive your car you will learn to adjust brakes. BFD! Rex
I originally had the Ford brakes on the front of mine and they weren't there long. Switched to the Wilson Welding brakes and have never regreted it. The Ford (I have sometimes heard them called Lockheed) just didn't stop well enough for me.
i like the bendix style way more (and yes i know how to adjust brakes, just don't like doing it that often) but if you do run the lockheed style the key is to have the drums true and the shoes arched to the drums along with proper adjustment.
Self energizing brakes put the whole shoe against the drum while the old style have a fixed pivot at the bottom which only allows the top part of the shoe to do most of the braking. Study the 2 designs and it's clear which is superior.
I'd have been really happy to leave this comment here - but then some bubba would tell me how I'm wrong based on what he read on a cereal box. Have a nice day.
All automotive brakes were not self energizing. Non self energizing brakes have one end of the shoe attached to a pivot and the other is pushed by the brake cylinder piston.
Great, always happy to hear from people who have no grasp of the concept, and don't read the material. Water runs uphill, the sun is cold, and he moon is made of green cheese. Your turn.
If you want to save some bucks and have better brakes consider the F100 brake swap. Here's some good information. http://www.flatheadv8.org/f1brakes1.htm -Bigchief.
The Jalopy Journal
