Rear Brake Shoes for 1951 Henry J - Recommendations

[mikemon22]

Need to replace the rear brake shoes on my 1951 Henry J Deluxe 161. RockAuto says there part number for the HJ is out of stock and lists a different part number for an Allstate. Summit Racing shows the same shoes that RockAuto lists for the Allstate, but shows that they will fit a 1951 Henry J. All very confusing. What are your recommendations for replacement shoes, to include having existing shoes relined. Thanks.

[h-e-n-r-y-j]

My advice is as follows: Purchase two sets of brake shoes from me. I have two sets available for $55/set plus shipping. These shoes are correct for your Henry J and they have vintage linings which are chamfered as well as riveted in place.

[HJ-ETEX]

Look HJ and Allstates use #51 brakes shoes (rebuilders number) front and back. A number of 2WD Jeep vehicles use the same. IF you find modern rebuilt shoes, they will probably have "environmentally safe" linings. That is to say, they have Kevlar (dark grey)  linings instead of asbestos (light grey) linings. Before you start clapping your hands on saving the whales, let me point out that the Kevlar linings are quite hard and don't do a very good job of stopping your car unless you have power assist. On one brake job on a big Kaiser (they use #55 shoes), we had to take off new relined shoes and install 2 pairs of used shoes to get the car to stop acceptably.
Are your linings really worn that thin?

[h-e-n-r-y-j]

Tom: Do you mean #53 brake shoes for big Kaisers?

[HJ-ETEX]

And I went out to the barn to look at the shoes in the boxes and still got the Big KF Numbers wrong.

[Quadromaniac]

I ordered new shoes from Rock Auto for a 1953 Henry J. They sent shoes for the Full Size Kaiser instead. Since I have a 54 Kaiser Special I just kept them and put them on that car instead. I pick up new shoes for the Henry J at Auto Zone using the # for a jeep, I don't remember the model right now. I think it was #51.