I have been having trouble with front brakes dragging to the point where I can't move the car. This only happens in REVERSE and on both front wheels. I back off the brake adjusters (way back). The wheels turn freely. I try to back the car before touching the brake pedal and I can feel the drag. The spindle nut is installed hand tight. The drum seem solid and doesn't move.. I have had the wheels apart several times and when I reassembled I place the tapered end of the outer bearing inward although it seems that it fits both directions (see photo) This one's got me stumped. Thanks for any ideas.
I can't tell from the photo which bearing you are referring to inner or outer. You should have the inner ball bearing assy facing outward and the outer ball bearing assy facing inward. I am not familiar with the brake set up so can not help with that.
as for brakes if you look at the shoes are the pads dragging all the way around or just on one end or the other ?? also check to make sure the drums and brakes when set up are round not oval/ eggshape.
and in regards to adjusters are you talking about the rod adjustments or the Trunion ?!? 1929 Front Brakes Trunion is on the rear of the brake shield
when setting them did you follow the procedure to set them correctly for front and rear ?!? i followed the instructions in the 1929 Service News. do the return springs fully function and pull the brake rods back releasing the brakes.
Thanks for the good info. I was talking about the trunion. Here's my theory; After backing the trunions way off, the wheels turn freely off the ground with no drag from shoes Then I remove the jack stands and place the wheels on the ground. At that point, I don't touch the brake pedal. I put the car in reverse and within 5' of travel, I can feel the drag. Putting weight on the wheels seems to play a role. I thought that maybe the bearings were some how causing the brake drum to "wiggle" which may have caused it to bind on the shoes. But then again, I didn't get any play when trying to wiggle the drums by hand. .Question; in your photo, the outer bearing is mounted with the beveled side toward the backing plate, right? I will look for the service news article. I believe that I have it. Thanks again.
it seems if it were the bearings in your theory it would do it either in forward or reverse. considering all should be concentric around the spindle should not matter forward or reverse.
has to be something in regards to the motion, if you put it together and put on the wheel with car in air and spin tire in reverse like you are backing out, does it start dragging ??
one thing you could do to see where is put painters tape over the pads, then put on hub and spin round and round, then remove hub and look at marking on tape. that would tell you where it was dragging.
also would take brake completely apart up front and ensure everything is clean and moves freely. maybe a dab of grease on the pivoting shafts and cam. ensure NO GREASE is on near the pads. operate the cam manually and ensure it is moving correctly and pushing the pads out and then return freely
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