VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 1931 Brake Linings

Any recommendations for replacement brake shoes or linings?

Since your car has mechanical brakes, use woven linings and not the modern linings.

good post for reference about this subject with info/ details:
Braking with 1929 stock mechanical brakes

I have not yet driven my '29, the body is still under construction. The brake linkage appears to be designed to apply the rear before the front brakes. Is that correct or not?

Ha ha... I've never heard that before.

The answer is "No". They should both engage at the same time. There are sufficient adjustments that can be made to make that happen simultaneously.

Do you have copies of the Service News? Or the Owners Manual. They both have instructions on this.

Here's some reading information for you. :-)

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyowner/32cim/32cimeca27.html

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyowner/32cim/32cimeca26.html

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_32/2932mppl077.html

http://1931chevrolet.com/specs12.htm

Any recommendations of where to source these linings or replacement shoes w/linings?

Dave,
Because current wisdom and the authorities felt that it was unsafe to apply the front brakes before the rear those systems are designed to apply the rear brakes first. As soon as the rear brake linings touch the drums then the front brakes apply. That hopefully maintains steering control that might be lost if the front brakes are applied first (particularly on slick road surface).

I buy my linings and rivets from McMaster-Carr. It is an online hardware firm. I use what is listed as "high strength" friction material. It is a woven lining with metal strips.

scroll down in that link i posted, and there are some postings with links directly to the items in question.

If you don't want to install your own linings, The Filling Station offers a relining service at a very reasonable price. They did all my '31 shoes and they are supurb. Call them for a price.
Happy Motoring,
Bill

The FS did mine as well...Nice job and my 32 stops real well. Remember though, ask yourself if you want your 31 stop stop or to bee quiet. Mine stops but does squeal at times. My brake shoes were re lined with a good material and have copper threads in the lining.

Mac

Just for reference on brake adjustments of the era: My 32' Olds manual describes how to adjust the brakes so that the rears start to brake slightly before the fronts. The manual also states that when applying the brakes, if the cars pulls to one side, is to lessen the braking on the side that pulls and NOT to increase the braking on the side that doesn't.
I enjoy reading the different service manuals as some of the info will help with all cars as some manuals have more details than others.

Any recommendations for a rivet installation tool?

I purchased brake rivet installation tool from Snyder's Antique Auto Parts in Ohio. There are several other Model A part suppliers that will have the tool. It is clamped in a bench vise I and several friends have riveted many sets of brake linings.

This is all new to me. I contacted the filling station but they have no cores to rivet material onto. I live in SC so putting my car on stands and shipping cores to Oregon is slow and risky. Where would I find dimensions for lining materials and rivets? How much counter sink does the lining need to hold onto the shoe? Is any glue required? What rivet tooling will work? I looked at Snyders but tooling said for model A Fords.
Thanks

If you have a local commercial clutch and brake house they will probably have the woven linings available on a roll by the foot. That is where I purchased my linings and they also riveted the linings to the brake shoes for me as well.

Also, try McMaster-Carr. They should have the linings also and you can order them on line. https://www.mcmaster.com/