Brake band material

[Chris Haynes]

I know that bands are available in a variety of materials. My question is which one gives the most braking power?

[TXGOAT2]

I believe that any of the lining materials are capable of sliding the rear wheels if everything is in good adjustment. Kevlar is probably the longest lasting.

[Moxie26]

Let's clarify this request.. referring to emergency brake bands, or transmission brake bands?

[jiminbartow]

Everyone has his favorite, me included. In my 52 years of owning my 1926 Coupe, I have used Scandinavian woven bands, Kevlar woven bullet proof bands and Guinn’s wood bands and I much prefer the wood bands. Scandinavian woven bands (which is what Model T’s originally used in the day), which are not very durable, can be shredded with one hard stop. Kevlar, which is as hard as the steel drums, is a little too durable and can crack or score your drums after a hard stop. Wood bands are durable but not so durable as to harm your drums and work very smoothly. Some may disagree, but it is what I have learned over the years. Jim Patrick

[TRDxB2]

As Jim points out everyone has their favorites & it would appear that each option provides about the same breaking power. So perhaps choices can be made on some of the pros & cons.
Woven cotton fabric shreds its lint;
Kevlar can cause drum failure.
Wood, chattering in reverse.

are there more pros & cons? I'd go with the one that would be the least problematic, risk of/causing failure and require the least adjustment once applied

[Chris Haynes]

Let's clarify this request.. referring to emergency brake bands, or transmission brake bands?

My 1921 parking brake has no lining. No bands are used on the parking brake.

[Moxie26]

Chris simply if you stated what year model T you were working on, replies would have been more specific. Lined
emergency brake shoes were installed for the 26-27 model years, prior to that were cast metal shoes against the brake drum. As far as transmission band linings there are several materials available cotton, wood, Kevlar, and Brand x.. take your pic. My preference are the wood band liners.... Depending on availability at the vendor of your choice they may or may not have your preference.

[TRDxB2]

Let's clarify this request.. referring to emergency brake bands, or transmission brake bands?

My 1920 parking brake has no lining. No bands are used on the parking brake.

Do you need to update your profile to avoid confusion in the future?

[speedytinc]

Let's clarify this request.. referring to emergency brake bands, or transmission brake bands?

My 1920 parking brake has no lining. No bands are used on the parking brake.

Whats available (see langs) is a 1 piece cast iron shoe with a grey modern brake lining. Better than nothing. They do work, but be warned they take a lot of "fitting" which includes narrowing. They are not good enough to rely on(IMO) as an external brake band setup or R/M brakes.
Occasionally period replacement shoes show up @ swap meets with a woven lining.

[Chris Haynes]

Let's clarify this request.. referring to emergency brake bands, or transmission brake bands?

My 1920 parking brake has no lining. No bands are used on the parking brake.

Do you need to update your profile to avoid confusion in the future?

As you can see profile says I have a 1921 Runabout.

[Chris Haynes]

Chris simply if you stated what year model T you were working on, replies would have been more specific. Lined
emergency brake shoes were installed for the 26-27 model years, prior to that were cast metal shoes against the brake drum. As far as transmission band linings there are several materials available cotton, wood, Kevlar, and Brand x.. take your pic. My preference are the wood band liners.... Depending on availability at the vendor of your choice they may or may not have your preference.

I asked for brake, not emergency brake. Emergency brakes don't have bands do they?

[jiminbartow]

1926-‘27 T’ emergency brakes have brake linings but not made out of multiple materials. The fact that the question was asking which band lining material was the best made it obvious the question was referring to transmission band linings. Just sayin’. Jim Patrick

[Chris Haynes]

1926-‘27 T’ emergency brakes have brake linings but not made out of multiple materials. The fact that the question was asking which band lining material was the best made it obvious the question was referring to transmission band linings. Just sayin’. Jim Patrick

Thank you Jim. Finally a voice of intelligence.