Weekend Puzzler

Posted by Kevin Daly on September 11, 1998 at 14:45:55

Hi Folks,
This weekend's puzzler has to do with brakes.The front brakes to be exact.I soon will be rebuilding my brakes.I am so inspired to do so by Marco's reference to his braking confidence on the hills of San Fransisco. (Show Off!)
I'm the type of guy that likes to get all of the information I can from as many sources I can so that I can take the best techniques from all of them. (and of course give all due credit to those sources when I'm done)
I read a great article recently in the Red Book from the Restorer series called "Putting on the Brakes" or something to that effect.The author suggested that a small section, approximately 1/16" be removed from both sides of the "Wedge stud and it's backing washer".This will allow the shoes to come in a little bit closer to each other and allow the actual wedge to work more effectively.Well that sounded very logical to me and I plan on doing just that.
I hope to use the original parts which I believe were round in shape but just in case I need replacements I starting checking my catalogs.Bratton's has them illustrated with flats already machined.I'm assuming for the reason afore stated.Snyder's also has them illustrated with the flats machined, but rotated 90 degrees to the mounting shaft with the flats on it.Remember this part goes through an elongated slot, not a round hole. When mounted, the Snyder's flats would be horizontal.This would do nothing to bring the shoes in towards the wedge, thus in my opinion, defeating the entire reason for the flats in the first place.
I thought I was dreaming and that the illustration was wrong, but then I was reading Jim Schild's book The Model A Shop Manual. His photographs in the braking section clearly show the flats in a horizontal plane.
The Weekend Puzzler is
Should the flats be horizontal or vertical when mounted, and why? "I say vertical!"
Are the sides already machined by 1/16" per side and the part is just made of flat bar stock?"Quite Possibly!"
What do you think?(Once again in that slow, mysterious Jack Palance tone)
Have a great weekend folks.See you next week.
Regards,
Kevin Daly

Follow Ups:
Re: Weekend Puzzler Marco September 11, 1998 at 18:28:41(3)
AHMEN!!!!! David Dewey September 12, 1998 at 10:58:21(0)
Re: Weekend Puzzler jim upton September 12, 1998 at 06:19:47(1)
Re: Thank You Kevin Daly Sep. 14, 1998 at 07:25:22(0)

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