"37 Terraplane brakes

Hudsonrules

Finaly got the brakes done on my '37 Terraplane, Big problem! they are tight. The drums  are very snug, barely will turn.  The adjusters are all the way in, new hold down springs, relined shoes,  rebuit wheel cylinders, Could the lining be to thick? The front drums were turned, the shop was unable to turn the rear ones, though they were okay.  Okay, when removing the old shoes, there were three broken springs on  three wheels that had a short broken spring about two thirds of the way up. One was still attached. According to the  shop manual, there is a pie shaped slot on the drum where the shoes acan also be adjusted. I was unable to get those springs, about an inch or so long. There is a bolt on the back side of the backing plate that can be turned which somehow to help adjust the shoe using the pie shaped hole in the drum and a 20thousanth feeler gauge.  Any help for this Terrible pain will be appreciated. Thanks, Arnie in Nevada.

jjbubaboy

Hey Arnie,

Sound like you should look in the shop manual for the info and also Walt's Tech Tip books are also a big help! Their is a big nut on top of the back side of the backing plate which when loosened will allow up and down movement of the top pivot to center the shoes in the drum. The small nut on the backside is an accentric which will also expand or allow them to detract to get the proper feeler gauge measurement once the shoes are centered. It is a slow process but well worth the time and effort. I believe you do need the small springs in order for the accentric to work properly.

Took me a while to get mine on my 36 figured out and done correctly but finally got the hang of it.

Good luck,

Jeff

Frankvintagefullflowcom

Did you have the original shoes relined or trade them in for relined ones? This may not be of any concern on a pre '41 but it brings to mind a problem I once had regarding the post '40 "high anchor pin" shoes versus the centered anchor pin type (like Ford).
F

Hudsonrules

Thanks, I had the shoes relined. Bought kits and rebuilt the wheel cylinders, replaced front hoses, will eventually have to do the rear hose. Will be installing a new Master cylinder. Can spme one tell me the best place to get those little springs that are about an inch long and hook about two thirds  from the bottom of the shoe near the top, where an adjusting bolt is on the rear of the backing plate. Thanks again. Arnie in Nevada.

 

Trevor J

I think you will find that the nut at the top of the drum is the problem.
I had a similar problem with my 37 Terraplane and once this was adjusted the problem was sorted.
Trevor J
NZ

Park_W

With everything backed off, check through the little inspection hole in the drum as you turn it, and see where the linings are rubbing the drum.  It's likely at the upper end.  As said above, the "anchor pin" at the top of the backing plate is likely the problem ... needs to be lowered..  Those shoes may be the incorrect types that are on many of our Hudsons nowadays. Perhaps with worn linings there wasn't a problem, but the new, thicker ones don't fit well.  So, assuming the shoes are making contact at the top end, move the anchor pin down if possible.  If it's down all the way and the linings still drag at the top, you'll have to grind the bottom of the anchor pin hole in the backing plate, so the pin can come down further.  About 1/16" is usually enough.  Walt's 2 books descvribe the process.

jjbubaboy

Hey Arnie,

you might want to try NAPA for the little springs. Some still have the books to reference by pics. They do only sell kits of springs and hold down parts but they are inexpensive and they may have a kit that has those or a very close one that will work.

Jeff