Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Hello!
I need help understanding the correct part to order for my front and rear brake shoes.
I placed an order on Rock Auto utilizing my model, but the shoes that arrived are way to wide to fit into the drum. I see tons of options on ebay, but don't want to make the same mistake again. Has anyone replaced their shoes with AC DECLCO o RAYBESTOS parts that can provide the right part number?

Thanks!

Here are the shoe specs for various models. You can determine the exact size you need by the chassis number. If you are not sure which chassis your car is built on use the chart on the front page of this service counselor to find your model and body type number. The body type number will be the first 4 numbers before the dash in your vehicle number as stamped on the door jamb tag. It wil be in the format 54xx-xxxx. After that number is found then look at the top of the column for the chassis that was used.




54 was a bit of a transition year for Packard where they kind of mixed things up. Various models of the Clipper used components different from the previous or even later model of the same named car. There are several aftermarket shoes listed for 51-4 Clippers in the parts Cross reference but some of the numbers are probably obsolete now. If the part is still available or has a replacement, even if obsolete most parts stores can find a modern number in place of the original.

When searching or ordering parts most mechanical items are listed under the chassis number and most body items are under the body number. It is better to confirm and use the numbers than relay on just a model name. An example would be if a fender or something with a name plate was damaged and has been changed for something out of a junkyard, the name could be wrong. Because so much interchanges on Packards and was also optional on Clippers, It has also been found that since a lot of models differentiated only by added trim or pieces of chrome sometimes previous owners "upgraded" their lower end cars to be something a bit more desirable.

It's been a while since I redid all the brakes on my '54 Panama. The 1954 Panama is a 5411. Should be 11" drums, shoe sizes are listed on the chart that Howard provided. Napa can get the right shoe size for you, though you will probably need new star adjusters as the shoe webbing is much thicker on modern shoes than original.

G'day PanamaPackard,
to PackardInfo.

I invite you to include your '54 Panama in PackardInfo's Packard Vehicle Registry.

I'm going to correct my previous statement. The '54 Panama has 12" brakes. I had to look through my old project blog to find the point where I dug into the brakes.

Start on this page of my blog and continue reading through several pages after.

So my chasis number is 5467-3280

The shoes have numbers stamped on them: 37710 & 377
Width of lining is about 4.5 CM
Overall width is 1FT from crest to crest

Are the rears and the fronts the same diameter? I didn't get around to dismantling the rear yet.

Quote:

What part numbers did you order??

Depending on the car, it came with either 11 or 12 inch diameter brakes, but it would be the same on all four wheels. Please note, however, that the width of the shoes themselves differs between the front and the rear.

Both front and rear are 12". If you want to buy new ones you can take the old shoes to NAPA and they will get you correct replacements. Kanter also has them, as does Max Merritt.

Otherwise you can send the shoes in to have new pads put on them. PGH, didn't you have a guy who does it with softer material?

Yes, I know a guy. However it's about $100 per wheel ($400 per car).

I think the standard replacements are about half that but people have problems with them sometimes.

Let me know if you're interested in the high quality stuff.