VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc '31 brakes lock

The linings could be shimmed if they are rivited to the shoe.

Yesterday, i visited my machinist friend who measured the suspect drum, and found that it was not turned too far at all. I should have gone to him at first. (A parts house had measured the drum a few days earlier, and had said it had been turned too far.) My machinist advised me to check the shoes to make sure they had been champfered, and they had not. So I chamfered the the end of each lining with sandpaper. I then checked the adjustment on each rear brake system, and found one side was much tighter than the other. With the help of a neighbor with his foot on the brake, I re-adjusted the rear brakes. I'll test drive tomorrow in the cool of the morning. (It's 95 here and very humid, and my little garage now has an air conditioner!). I thought about why the brakes had to be re-adjusted after only a couple hundred miles since they were new, and realized that the rear drums are different diameters, and the brake shoes had to seat to the drums. Maybe I found the problem???
Sid

Success!! I backed the '31 out of the garage, hit the brakes, and they stopped evenly! I pulled forward, hit the brakes, and they stopped evenly. I tried a few more times in reverse and forward, and there were no lock-ups. Thanks to everyone who provided assistance. It would have been a much easier task if I had listened to Chipper on the front end and re-adjusted the brakes.
Sid