Brakes: Who is right? Packard or Bendix?

Posted by Steve Davis On 2010/3/22 10:28:35

My 1954 Clipper Super Touring Sedan #5462-5901 (Chassis #5411) we determined in an earlier post has the 1953 Clipper brakes with 12" drums. I was hoping one of the knowledgeable Packard owners could straighten out a conflict I'm seeing regarding positioning of the shoes. There are "primary" and "secondary" shoes. According to a booklet on brakes (which I downloaded from this site) under "Bendix" brakes it shows a diagram of the brakes. The primary shoe has the shorter brake shoe material, the secondary the longer amount of material. It shows the primary shoe as being the "front" shoe during "forward drum rotation." The booklet goes on further to say, "Irrespective of the position in which the brake assembly is mounted on the axle, the Primary or Forward Shoe is always the one "ahead" of the anchor in the direction of forward rotation of the drum." That tells me that whether you are looking at the car on the left side or right side the primary shoe (the one with less braking material) is the one in front. This is the way the old brakes shoes were mounted when I began the brake job. In my 1954 Packard manual it seems to contradict that. It cites the "adjusting screw nut" for reference as follows, "On the left wheel brakes the adjusting screw nut is toward the secondary shoe. On the right wheel brakes the adjusting screw nut is toward the primary shoe." On this car on the left side the adjusting screw (star wheel) is oriented toward the front of the car. On the right side the adjusting screw is oriented toward the rear. Following the directive of the shop manual that makes the secondary shoe the front shoe on the left side and right side whereas Bendix says the primary shoe is the front shoe. Maybe it's another case of the 1954 manual being irrelevant because I have 1953 brakes. I sure am confused or "challenged!"
(Incidentally Northwestern Auto Supply in Grand Rapids, MI was a great source for relined shoes. They were even riveted. Shoes for all four corners were $120.)

On a related topic do one of you know the procedure for repacking the rear wheel bearings?