'56 Brakes
Posted by John Payne On 2013/10/11 1:04:11
G'day Fellas, I mentioned in my topic about rear axle bearings that I was also going to renew the brakes with woven linings hoping to achieve better braking with reduced pedal pressure. The job's just been completed so I thought you might like an update. By the way, I wasn't familiar with woven brake lining material and was advised to use this by the brake and clutch shop. Interestingly, the fellow behind the counter who advised that also reckoned that I'd get better braking with similar length linings at the rear, but more on this later.
Because of the length of this car and the difficulties in my shed of being able to get both ends high enough to work on, I decided it would be better to work on each end as a separate project. Completing the fronts first would also allow me to attend the Studebaker Club's concours (last Saturday) before attacking the rears. So, wheel cylinders were dissassembled, cleaned and lubed, and then reassembled with new cups. The newly relined shoes were then fitted and brakes adjusted and bled. The drums had been machined about 18 months ago so were left as is. The drive to the concours showed some improved braking but not significantly so.
Next the rears. After dismantling I spoke to the fellow who actually does the machining at the brake shop and he was strongly opposed to having similar length linings so I told him to do what he thought best. What was particularly interesting was his advice that the rear (rivetted) linings and drums were heavily glazed and their contribution to the braking effort would have been bugger all. Was this the cause of my braking woes? Time would tell. Anyway, the drums were machined and new woven linings fitted to the shoes. The assembly process was the same as the fronts, which included doing the wheel cylinders with new cups and bleeding. An initial drive showed some definite improvement and hopefully the improvement will continue as the linings bed-in.
I've attached some pic's so that others not familiar with woven linings can see for themselves. The first two are the fronts and the ones branded made in Brazil are the rears.
By the way, I'm now starting to think a little more about a remote master cylinder reservoir as it's a real PITA trying to add fluid down under the steering column. Has anyone done this and how did you approach the plumbing part of it?
Attach file:
(142.85 KB)
(180.38 KB)
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Because of the length of this car and the difficulties in my shed of being able to get both ends high enough to work on, I decided it would be better to work on each end as a separate project. Completing the fronts first would also allow me to attend the Studebaker Club's concours (last Saturday) before attacking the rears. So, wheel cylinders were dissassembled, cleaned and lubed, and then reassembled with new cups. The newly relined shoes were then fitted and brakes adjusted and bled. The drums had been machined about 18 months ago so were left as is. The drive to the concours showed some improved braking but not significantly so.
Next the rears. After dismantling I spoke to the fellow who actually does the machining at the brake shop and he was strongly opposed to having similar length linings so I told him to do what he thought best. What was particularly interesting was his advice that the rear (rivetted) linings and drums were heavily glazed and their contribution to the braking effort would have been bugger all. Was this the cause of my braking woes? Time would tell. Anyway, the drums were machined and new woven linings fitted to the shoes. The assembly process was the same as the fronts, which included doing the wheel cylinders with new cups and bleeding. An initial drive showed some definite improvement and hopefully the improvement will continue as the linings bed-in.
I've attached some pic's so that others not familiar with woven linings can see for themselves. The first two are the fronts and the ones branded made in Brazil are the rears.
By the way, I'm now starting to think a little more about a remote master cylinder reservoir as it's a real PITA trying to add fluid down under the steering column. Has anyone done this and how did you approach the plumbing part of it?
Attach file:
(142.85 KB)
(180.38 KB)
(157.59 KB)
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