Brakes

[324darrin]

 Took the brakes apart on the front and discovered that the shoes were on backwards.  That is of course unless the Darrin and Henry J breaks are just the opposite which I highly doubt. It reminds me of the story about the young mechanic whom asked about brake shoe placement and was told that the small shoes went on the front. When he was done with all four corners it was discovered that all four primary shoes were on the two front brakes and all four secondary shoes were on the rear brakes ha ha. Here is a photo of the way I found the brakes this is the left front.

[joefrazer]

If this is the left front, the shoes are on correctly. The leading shoe should be the long one and it should be on the front. The short shoe goes on the rear. If installed otherwise, the long shoe will drag on the drum.

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

That’s what I have found. Normally Big shoe on the Front.

Don’t feel bad, I have to refresh once or twice before starting a Project.

Sometimes Like a Turn Signal Switch I Take it to Someone that Does it Daily.

[324darrin]

With all due respect to you guys but all of the cars from the 50's and 60's that I have worked on over the years required the primary (short) shoe to be installed on the front This is reiterated in each of the many service manuals that I have in my library. Here is a quote from the web that supports that. "Automotive brake shoes consist of a primary and secondary shoe. the primary brake shoe is the front shoe and normally has a slightly shorter lining than the secondary shoe. The secondary shoe is the rear shoe and has the largest lining surface area".

Of course you don't have to believe any of this but consider that what is written in repair manuals has probably been tested by engineers way more qualified than I am. Thanks, Steve

[joefrazer]

KF brakes are not of the "floating" style....the bottom of both shoes remains stationary when the brakes are applied. If they were, the short shoe on the front would apply.

The KF shop manual has the long shoe being installed with the lining facing the front of the car.

[DTort96646]

The Kaiser Frazer 11 inch drum brakes have the long shoe as the primary and the short shoe is the secondary. This includes the Darrin that has the full size Kaiser Frazer drum brakes. See the Kaiser Frazer service manual page 214 3rd paragraph. In the General Discussion section under front wheel cylinders, there are 2 pages of discussion about brake shoes and cylinders. You can install the shoes anyway you wish, but the proper installation is long shoe front, short shoe rear. The Kaiser Frazer brakes are the floating style as described in the service manual.

[darrin145]

Floating or non-floating, that is the question! Please re-read replies 4 & 5. Thanks.

[joefrazer]

I stand corrected! The KF brakes are of the floating variety. That said, the long shoe does go on the front.

[Corsairdeluxe]

Click on the shoes
Read for your self
This was a shoe set for the Henry J

[DTort96646]

I'm just trying to supply the correct information, not trying to be a "smart ass".

[324darrin]

Ok, time to eat crow. I just settled onto a motel in Redding, Calif.  after a 9 hpur drive so just getting up to speed on this issue. I can’t argue with your comments and the shoe photo clinches it. When I return home next week, I will be swapping the shoe position. Thanks for all the input. Steve