Hidden disk breaks?

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KimVanOrder
Posts: 753
Joined: August 11th, 2013, 4:25 pm
Body Type: 82-A Platform
Model Year: 1928
Location: Hamilton, Mich.

Hidden disk breaks?

Post by KimVanOrder »

Has anyone considered trying to put disk breaks inside of a drum break? If the disk was fastened to the drum innner face on its outer edge and the calipers was mounted to run on the inside of the disk "hole in the center".
It would be a packaging problem, but there are some very small calipers that are mechanically opperated.

Much better breaking that would be totally hidden.

Food for thought..

KVO
KVO
Dec. '28 AA
Stakebed
Posts: 1223
Joined: June 14th, 2007, 7:29 pm
Body Type: Grainbox
Model Year: 1929
Location: Illinois

Re: Hidden disk breaks?

Post by Stakebed »

i dunno, an unloaded AA with properly working stock brakes should put your face into the windshield due to the shear size of them and brake pad contact. Not to mention the top speed is like 45mph. a caliper small enough to fit would get overheated very fast as there would be zero ventilation.

If anything is needed is possibly an air assist on the brake system to make it easier for the weaker legged to really stomp on the pedal.

For grins here is a few pics comparing the rear brake shoe of my 29 aa VS a rear brake pad off my 2002 chevy blazer

Image
Image
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John Losch
Posts: 14
Joined: May 7th, 2014, 3:58 pm
Body Type: 82b stake bed
Model Year: 1930
Location: Holliston, MA

Re: Hidden disk breaks?

Post by John Losch »

When I was in an accident a year ago with my 30 AA the truck was empty, and those 14 " drum brakes locked up the wheels at 35 MPH. We left skid marks in the road. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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spectria
Posts: 1874
Joined: May 15th, 2008, 9:53 pm
Body Type: Mail Truck, Stakebed
Model Year: 1931
Location: Quincy, Ca.

Re: Hidden disk BRAKES?

Post by spectria »

KimVanOrder wrote:Has anyone considered trying to put disk brakes inside of a drum brake? If the disk was fastened to the drum inner face on its outer edge and the calipers was mounted to run on the inside of the disk "hole in the center".
It would be a packaging problem, but there are some very small calipers that are mechanically operated.

Much better braking that would be totally hidden.

Food for thought..

KVO
If I had the time and money; that or hidden hydraulic brakes would be a fun project, but alas...
Dave in Quincy, Ca. I love Pics!!!! Post them All!!! :)
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KimVanOrder
Posts: 753
Joined: August 11th, 2013, 4:25 pm
Body Type: 82-A Platform
Model Year: 1928
Location: Hamilton, Mich.

Re: Hidden disk breaks?

Post by KimVanOrder »

OK ! I'm reading between the lines here. I Need to redo the stock breaks. Mine do not lock up. Lucky I can't go very fast.

So when they say "Re Arching the pads" just how is that done? Do you sand down the break lining to the the correct radius, or bend the steel under it to the correct shape? and if so what with?

KVO
KVO
Dec. '28 AA
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spectria
Posts: 1874
Joined: May 15th, 2008, 9:53 pm
Body Type: Mail Truck, Stakebed
Model Year: 1931
Location: Quincy, Ca.

Re: Hidden disk breaks?

Post by spectria »

KimVanOrder wrote:OK ! I'm reading between the lines here. I Need to redo the stock breaks. Mine do not lock up. Lucky I can't go very fast.

So when they say "Re Arching the pads" just how is that done? Do you sand down the break lining to the the correct radius, or bend the steel under it to the correct shape? and if so what with?

KVO
Kim, I hope you are OK with a small correction. It's Brakes, not breaks.
You would never arc the woven shoe lining, the other could be. Reshaping the shoe is extremely difficult and not done routinely. An arcing attachment was very common on Brake Grinders like AAMCO. The shoes and drums are so large that reshaping the arc is probably not necessary. JMHO.
Dave in Quincy, Ca. I love Pics!!!! Post them All!!! :)
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tiredtruckrestorer
Posts: 338
Joined: April 20th, 2003, 7:09 pm
Model Year: 1931
Location: Orwigsburg, PA

Re: Hidden disk breaks?

Post by tiredtruckrestorer »

If you want good brakes, you should always fit the brake shoes to the drum. Just lay the brake shoe with lining in the drum and see where the lining hits the drum. Often the lining has to be ground down at spots to get a full contact area, whether the woven or the hard lining. I'm even grinding my drums to get a nice round surface for the shoes to operate in. The stock brakes work well if they are set up right.

Keith
Stakebed
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Joined: June 14th, 2007, 7:29 pm
Body Type: Grainbox
Model Year: 1929
Location: Illinois

Re: Hidden disk breaks?

Post by Stakebed »

there are alot of wear points on these brakes that if not corrected even with 100% shoe to drum contact will still have poor brakes. Mostly the rollers, and the usually worn backing plates.
KimVanOrder
Posts: 753
Joined: August 11th, 2013, 4:25 pm
Body Type: 82-A Platform
Model Year: 1928
Location: Hamilton, Mich.

Re: Hidden disk breaks?

Post by KimVanOrder »

I'm OK with being corrected. Happens alot in my life.

So 'fitting' the shoes to fit the drum is the key. One of you mentioned not cutting the pad itself, another says to sand it to shape. I can see where cutting into the woven pad could cause problems. Unraveling. So if the drum has been turned, enlarged I.D. then the Linings would have to increase in size also to match. I quess what I'm looking for is advice on the best way to do this. Build up the shoe, machine to size then add the lining back? Or do you 'bend' the shoe to this new radius. (Dosn't sound good).

Suggestions? Approved process?

KVO
KVO
Dec. '28 AA
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Chris Haynes
Posts: 2203
Joined: September 7th, 2003, 5:18 pm
Body Type: 82A
Model Year: 1930
Location: Camarillo, CA

Re: Hidden disk breaks?

Post by Chris Haynes »

Using 1932 cast iron drums with the corresponding shoes is a major upgrade.
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dhetch
Posts: 54
Joined: May 16th, 2011, 5:48 am
Body Type: Stake Body
Model Year: 1928
Location: Lakeville, MN

Re: Hidden disk breaks?

Post by dhetch »

Chris, if memory serves me Kim has a 28 or possibly a 29. Will BB drums fit and work on the worm gear hubs? Most of the 28's without separate parking brakes had much narrower drums than the BB.
I should also mention that many of these old brake and clutch linings are still asbestos and should not be ground down without the proper equipment. Even though I used to work on them and grind them down 40 to 50 years ago, I do not believe it is a safe home shop project today. Try to find a brake supplier that has the proper equipment to do it safely and correctly. In order to do this, they will need both your drums and shoes. If you can't find one in your area, Brake & Equipment Warehouse is in Minneapolis and the last time I checked, could still do them. Or if you are buying relined shoes, that supplier should have the ability to arc them to your drums.
Dave
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Chris Haynes
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Joined: September 7th, 2003, 5:18 pm
Body Type: 82A
Model Year: 1930
Location: Camarillo, CA

Re: Hidden disk breaks?

Post by Chris Haynes »

dhetch wrote:Chris, if memory serves me Kim has a 28 or possibly a 29. Dave
No, But they fit on my Early 30 real nice.
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