BRAKES

Bruce = That would be true with all cars with Bendix Type One brakes ( like stepdown Hudsons ) But not true with all cars with drum brakes. Norm

The short shoe always goes on the front side and the long shoe goes on the rear side. This is on every wheel. Walt.

When You Hit the brakes, the weight transfers to the front, provided you are going forward, this puts more pressure on the front shoe, thus the longer shoe has more stopping power.Not many folks drive at highway speeds in reverse. I know this is very simplified, but there have been many pages of info written by engineers on why the longer shoe is on the front but this is the bare basics as I understand them.
Bob

My $.02 worth - Why would one shoe have longer lining than the other? It must do more of the braking work. My understsnding is that the direction of the rotation of the drum and the way the shoes are anchored to the backing plate has a effect on the braking action. If the shoes are anchored at the bottom (away from the wheel cylinder, at the top) The front shoe will have a "wedging" or self energising effect against the rotating drum, which the rear shoe wouldn't. So the front shoe would do more of the stoping work, thus the longer lining. On the Bendix brakes on our stepdowns the anchor is at the top (above the wheel cyl.) so the rear shoe has the self energising effect and has the longer lining.

Let them install the long shoe on the front side and watch what happens when going at highway speeds, when you have to make a fast stop. The short shoe is the primary, which applies braking to the drum first, then forces the secondary to contact the full shoe to the drum and this is where the braking action comes in. If you will notice that is the shoe that wears out before the front lining. Enough said, let todays mechanics do their work and us old timers get to do them over. I just finished a brake job on a 1953 Super Wasp that was done in a local garage, guess what, long shoe on front and the guy never knew where he was going when he hit the brakes. I can show you the guys answer after I corrected the brakes, and yes, they rebuilt the cylinders and all were leaking. I use only all new parts, cylinders, master cylinder, flex lines and the correct shoes. Right now I'm lining up all new parts to do a brake job on a 1939 Hudson Country Club Sedan, 6 cylinder. Expensive yes, but you will stop straight. Walt.

It's too long to write a quick story, as there is about 6 adjustments that need to be done in order. If you have my tech tip books, go to Volume two (2) page 15, and there is the complete story on setting Hudson brakes from 1936 to 1954. if not you can find someone that has them. I still sell these books. Walt.

Thanks to You Old Timers. I appologize for the misinformation I posted before. I also have to say thanks for setting me straight. I don't wish to supply any info that might get someone hurt or to hurt someones car.
Thanks again,
Bob