VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc 1932 Mechancal Brake noise

I have two '32's. One 4 door sedan, and a newly required, restored 1/2 ton Pick-up. The sedan stops normally with little brake groan. Another '32 Sedan I sold this summer had similar stopping performance. The Pick-up, restored by a now deceased VCCA club member, stops in 1/2 the distance with less pedal effort, exhibits brake buzz/groan from 15 mph on down when brakes are cool, not hot. I like the stopping performance, but am looking for solutions to the noise, which disappears if the brakes are hot from a 30 mph stop or after multiple low speed stops. One proposed solution is to use an external spring "band" around the drum as was done on rear cast iron drums on more modern ('50's - '80's) cars. The spring added mass and rigidity to a drum and served as a vibration damper. Obviously, my brake drums are the deep drawn steel drums, not cast iron. My first reaction is that the lining, which has outstanding stopping performance is the issue. I'd like to attach a video of the brake noise, but this forum doesn't allow it and I'm not posting it on YouTube for the whole world to view.

Check out www.kimballmidwest.com brake finishing product # 801096. My 32 would stop on a dime as if it had power brakes but sounded like a fully loaded 18 wheeler coming to a panic stop. The above is for disc brakes but works excellent with the steel drums and woven lining. There is no brake stopping reduction but perhaps a small increase in necessary pedal pressure.

I have the same issue on just the RF of my 31 Sedan. I just applied the Kimball Midwest product and there was a very noticeable decrease in noise. Sometimes no noise at all. Just be careful when you take it out the first time. My car pulled hard to the left for the first half dozen or so brake applications. It got better as the product started working. The instructions say to make several low speed stops to make the product work which is when I had the pull.

When I used the Kimball-Midwest product I only got a small noise the first time putting on the brakes.. After I applied it I then wiped off any excess and drove slowly around the block with light pressure on the brake pedal. The pulling to me indicates that perhaps there was an unequal amount of product on opposite sides or too much applied. If the pulling continues then perhaps an adjustment may be necessary. Let us know how they are working once you have a few more miles of usage.

Originally, I had only done the RF since it sounded like where the noise was coming from. This week, I redid the RF and did the LF. I lightly sanded the shoes and drums on both sides, then used brake cleaner on a paper shop towel (the blue ones) to clean the shoes and drums. Once that dried, I applied the Kimball product, reassembled and adjusted both sides.

Took it for a drive today. Silent brakes!!! I'm not certain the brakes are as effective as they were - either they need to wear in a bit, or I'm just paranoid. At any rate, I didn't have any trouble stopping, so I'm quite pleased with the results.

When I took it apart this time, I found that the LF was adjusted tighter than the RF. That accounts for the pull.

Next up - pulling the steering box for a rebuild.

If you did not also do the rear then I suggest you do so. That will help in keeping the brakes in balance,