VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 1929 Brake Set-Up - Adjustment

I starting this weekend working on setting up the brakes on my 1929. Was told that the 1929 had all news shoes on all four corners. So this weekend I removed all four tires, looked over the rods,clevis, pins, etc... New shoes all the way around.

I began by reading and doing my homework... Read the Owners Manual, Service Manual, also 1929 Service News ( It has step by step Adjustment Procedure ), and then scanning thorugh post on here. Now armed and dangerous, I ventured out and began going through the steps. Had a little fun trying to get the Brake tool to line up with the Poportioner on the cross shafts. Cross Shaft & Proportioner Had to work the Cross shafts as they were nice and tigh, been sitting awhile. I know that using the tool should set everything to a neutral position to do the rods. Wondering how the cross shafts should be sitting, when set here, this is what I have Cross Shaft End Location, this is looking towards the rear of the 1929, front to the right. Front Linkage Front Linkage Pict. this look right or off some ??

Once I got it lined up i set the front, was pretty easy. So i Went to the back, when I got to the back something caught my attention, looks like the pads are not square on the drums.Rear Brake - Top Down As you can see one side the rear is in line but the front it offset to the inside. Is it supposed to be like this, thought they should be square and inline ?? If they are supposed to be square, how can i get them there, looking in the Master Parts List there is not left / Right specific shoes, only top and bottom. I removed them and tried various setups to get them to line up but no avail ?!

Here are some pictures of what I had to start with:
Rear Brake - Passenger
Rear Brake - Rear Shot of Adjusting Eyes for Rear Adjustment
Rear Brake - Front Shot of Connecting Band

Looking for ideas on what to do and should they be square on teh drums, and if so how to get them there. What am I missing/ Overlooking.

The first thing I noticed is that the levers on the cross shafts are pointing up. All my '28 Chevys have the levers pointing down. I was under the impression that the brake setup on '29 was basically the same as '28.

I was thinkng that as well
however, I found several User Photos of 1929 Chevrolet's and it shows them in the Upward Position as well...

Mine is a 1929 and they point up. They also point up on the spare cross shaft assembly I have. But, I still haven't got them adjusted well.

I just went scanning through my digital photo collection, and looks like the 1928 did point down, where as the 1929 point up ?!?

Learned something today.

Can't help on '29s in the rear, but just want to say this work will be worth all the effort. On my '30, after "equalizing" carefully, it stops and feels almost like a "new" hydraulic model. Great, and no brake fluid to mess with.

got all my springs on order, should be here monday, then I can get back to the fun of setting hte brakes :)

simple yet complicated all the same

Well got all my Springs in !! Brakes are on hold for now, while I revisit the Engine and teh Main Bearings. Hoping to get this done this week and then back on the Brakes !!

I can check the alignment of the brakes this week. I will be going over my 1929 brakes and doing the same adjusting that you started.

I have been messing with my 29 grakes as well. Never knew the deal was up. Maybe that is why I can get my front left to release well??

Doug,
Several of us have been trying to tell people that a good correctly adjusted 4 wheel mechanical brake system will stop as well as the tires allow. Properly adjusting and high friction linings are the key. As you aptly point out don't have to worry about fluid leaking out and having no brakes. If the brakes worked when you put it in the garage, they will work when you take it out.

I checked my right side brake shoes and the look pretty square to the drum. Take a look at the two rear adjusting offset bolts maybe they are swapped. I was looking at shoes from the back and the front. Car is up on a lift.

Well plan on getting back to my brakes this week... Got all my springs and parts on the bench, and hoping to get it all figured out.

now that it is running need to get it to stop ?

then i can take it for a test drive

Just get NC Chip to come by or go see him if you get in a bind.

Thanks for the info, may have to look him up if needed

Some picts of the New Springs & Gear
Parts n Pieces

Got New Clevis Pins, Cotter Pins, Springs for front and rear, and a New Clutch Return Spring...

Happy to help if I can. I just finished a '29 chassis restoration and it is still sitting without any sheet metal in the way. I could post or email you some photos of the brake linkages if that would help. Just send me a PM

All the Best,

Chip

sent you a PM

Been working with NC Chip & Andys29 on my brake issue, one issue that NC Chip has pointed out was that the rear Bracket that mounts (riveted) to the Flange seesm to be out of place.

Bracket in Question
Bracket Close-Up
Bracket Top Down Assembled
Bracket Top Down
Bracket from the Inside
Bracket from Rear

This varies from his that seems to be pretty Flat against the flange ?!?

Now Looking at the location of the Proportioner as well and the End Linkages of teh Cross shafts and front / rear linkages. Here is a picture of the Proportioner in position using the Brake Gauge/ TOol to set the pin hole at approximately 35 deg. Proportioner Set-up, now with theis setup here is what the crossshaft linkages look like Cross shaft end linkages The front is to the left, and linkageis slightly angled to hte front, where the rear is more angled to the rear at a steeper angle. Here is a shot of the front linkage Front Linkage it is almost straight up and down, slight angle towards the front. Then here is the rear linkage Rear Linkage Rear of 1929 is to the left, Linkage is slightly angled towards the rear. hard to get a side shot of this one since it is in a tight spot behind running board.

Trying to figure out if this is correct or even in the ball park. seems with this setup I can connect all the linkages back up after the brakes are se tot he stops and adjustments are made.

Bear,
The maximum leverage will be obtained with the levers 90 deg. to the centerline of the rods. So if it is a bit less and is rotated through the max you will have the most pressure on the linings as the brake shoes hit the drums.

Chipper...

What you stated above actaully makes sense now that I think about it, and looking back at where my rods and linkages are located in relation they should be PDC (Pretty Darn Close). All things considered, figuring which way the rods rotate when the brakes are applied and that ALL RODS ARE PULLED towards the Corss Shafts. I hope to get out and replace the springs on the rear so that I can put it together and compelte the brakes to test them out.

I now need to figure out IF that Bracket is out of place or if something else is out of place or jsut not right. NC Chip has been a big help as well Andys29 with providing pictures of what they have and their experiences.

OK, I am working on getting back to the brakes, mainly the rear.

The front Brakes have been checked, cleaned, etc... Hoping they are done & ready to go.

As for the Rear, From our discussions and looking at the pictures of my rear brake Bracket [External Brake Connecting Rod Support] (As discussed and shown in photos above) and comparing it to the pictures from Andys29 & Chip (in NC) It looks like I need to adjust this bracket to move the brakes shoes towards the outside of the vehicle so as to get them to seat square on the drums.

Pictures:
Bracket: Front View
Bracket: Top Down
Bracket: View from Inside

Question: What is the best way to adjust this bracket with out doing ay damage to it or surrounding parts, like the Drum ?? I need the drum to help know where the bracket needs to go (Alignment). I can talk to it with a BFH and see how that works, or try some sort of clamp/ vise ??

I have to do this to both sides on the Rear...

Man, that's one clean undercarriage! Hope you don't mind, I printed some of the pictures for reference.

Jim

lol, it is dusty n dirty
you are more then welcome to the pictures, For all the help everyone has provided me, consider it payback :-)
I am taking tons of pictures and documenting all I do to my 1929 and hopefully it will help me and others in the future !!