MTFCA Forum

I'm in the process of installing Rocky Mountain brakes. When re-installing one wheel, the parking brake lining came loose. (The lining came loose because it was very tight in the drum) I had a replacement lining kit. When I riveted on a new lining with a new cam, the new brake wouldn't fit back in the drum. Even with the wheel off, the brake shoe with the new cam wouldn't fit in the drum. I think the only thing to do is grind the cam thinner.

John, you don't mention what year your car is. I think there has been a recurring problem with new linings for 26-7 T's being too thick. If that is your problem, I would rather thin the linings down on a belt sander/linisher than get stuck into the brake cam.

Allan from down under.

Sorry. I have a '27, with 11 inch drums. Also noteworthy, when I did do some drilling and grinding of the leading edges, I found that I created some nasty little 'invisible' fibers that are now sticking into my hands and arms. I even got a few in my feet. Like tiny wood splinters except I cant see them.

John. The tiny fibers You got into sound a lot like the fiber glass particles I got into sanding a fiberglass pole. NASTY stuff need to almost wear a hazmat suit when working with it. At least a good N95 mask, long sleeves, gloves. and pants cuff covering Your ankles and open shoe top's.

Now I've probably contaminated my work area. Got to carefully clean it up and be much more careful next time.

I didn't find the repro lining particularly good in terms of stopping power. The ones I used were available about four years ago, and fitted with no problems, although the ends had to be glued down. The original asbestos linings were great in comparison, but of course no longer available.
I now use modern bonded linings.

I got the lining to fit by grinding the top and bottom of the cam quite a bit. The lining material creates some horrible 'dust' when ground. I didn't like the provided rivets too much. The body or the rivet is a lot smaller than the hole in the parking brake shoe backing. I think that I have the Rocky Mountain brakes adjusted properly. We will see...

I know this is an old post but where did you source the bonded linings?

Have good success with the brass fiber woven stiff like linings from the vendors.


And these large drum emergency brakes for the '26-'27 only use one large spring.

Hopefully none of those particles got into your lungs. be careful.
The problem with grinding the cams, is that it causes a permanent change. Later lining might be available to fit and the cams have been changed.
I would recommend that you buy a new set of cams while they are still available just to have in store if that be the case.
Norm