Tag: front brakes

1929 Model A Ford Sport Coupe Front Brake Maintenance

1929 Model A Ford Sport Coupe Front Brake Maintenance

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Since the juice brakes were updated not long after I got the car, one of the previous owners had changed the standard Model A mechanical brakes to hydraulic (juice) brakes. They had used the earlier brakes and I converted to the later 39-48 version which in my experience are easier to maintain. The reason for taking a look at the front brakes was that the passenger side front was grabbing a little when cold.

All the the shoes were cleaned up with abrasive paper, the shoe touch points and adjusters lubricated. The drivers side front brake drum is showing signs of wear from previous brake shoe wear issues. A new drum will be sourced as well as a set of shoes. After the inspection the drums were refitted, wheel bearings repacked and the brakes adjusted. Wheels were then refitted ensuring that the wheel protection rings were fitted between the wheels and brake drums. These rings stop the wire wheels from cracking. Wheel bearings were adjusted and split pins fitted, then brakes were adjusted.

Whilst working on the front brakes I took the opportunity to adjust the cables on the excellent Cling handbrake system. Details here

Building The Front Brakes

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Nice evening so I thought I’d test build the front brakes before fitting in July. No wheel cylinders as I’m hoping to use the relatively new ones that are on the existing back plates. It was a useful exercise and gave me some assurance that I’ve got all the bits to fit them in anger. The shoes are the nice Bob Drake type from Miles at Jack hammer. One downside was that when I took the shoes out of the box there was a dent in a couple of the shoes. Not the end of the world, but a little miffed all the same. Now waiting for Miles to get his next order from Bob Drake so I can build up the rears at least a little.  Won’t be able to do too much as I need to reuse the existing handbrake levers.