MTFCA Forum

26-27's rear brakes were quite a bit different from the earlier years, in that there is no shoe bolt, one spring and the shoe itself is more like a band than a shoe and the linings are a single piece that wraps round the shoe. And since the design of this shoe is a one piece lining more of the shoe expands upon the drum, increasing the emergency brakes efficiency quite a bit over the previous years system.
The 4 clips on the backing plate act as guides/keepers and keep the shoe in the correct position inside the drum. All and all a rather simple assembly (it was just a pain to draw).

As always if anybody has any suggestions and or corrections, please let me know.

Fabulous work!

The brake banding rivets are backwards, they are inserted from the other side,

If they are split rivets, they are installed from the inside.

If the linings are countersunk and semi tubular rivets used, they are installed as shown.

From what I've seen they're tubular rivets, not splits.

Hi Martynn, Fabulous work. I love what you are doing. Not nit picking but I know how much you strive to get it correct. Threads on the axle and the radius rods look coarse and should be NF. Radius rod nuts looks good. Thanks, JW

On my August 26 coupe on parts 2557/8 B, brake cam, there is a washer type piece attached (welded) to the brake cam at each end to keep shoes from hitting drum. What say you (community)?

Big flat washer on Brake Cam ???

Discussed here:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/41 ... 1408239795

Now community has spoken, somewhat, question would be are these available somewhere or is this a self-manufactured piece? No big deal if it is just wondering. Is the pictures accurate as to placement of washer?

Early 26/27 brake cams had the washer. Later ones did not. The washer was attached to the cam by riveting over the end of the brake cam. It was not a separate loose piece.

What does, "riveting over the end of the brake cam", mean?

I saw that big washer also, but none of the replacement cams come with that and there doesn't seem to be a provision to install one either. On the cam there is an extension of shaft for the washer to fit on and then it is either peened over or spun welded to the shaft. It acts as a guide for the shoes, as they open and close, but since they are pretty much trapped between the backing plate, it's guide clips and the drum, there isn't really anyplace it can get off to either...but you're right, the cam on a 26 has that washer, I don't think the 27 has it though, I'll have to check on that one. I've been debating as to whether or not I should break up this assembly according to their differences by their years 26 has the backing plate as it is on the drawing with that washer and 27 have a backing plate that the guides are punched out of the backing plate with a stiffener crease at the bottom of the plate (like on the backing plate of the TT's, just not as many as on a TT's).

Is that the correct perch for a 26-7? All my cars are earlier, but I thought the 26-7 perches virtually had the mounting thread directly off the back of the perch. Or am I getting confuse with TT items?

Allan from down under.

Ok kids, here we go again. Wouldn't you know that the bloody rear brake system on 26-27 would be a right old pain in my rear as well. Who knew there were so many different configurations? Anyhoo, apparently the stamped and pressed shoe guides came out in 26, and by the time 27 got produced Ford went to the riveted guides. But before that came to pass, there were two different stamped guide plates, one with a drain, that carried over to 27 and one without, which makes 3 different configurations of this brake system. If you stop and think about it, that's quite a few changes for such a limited play between 26 and 27, because about sometime in May of 1927 Ford started producing the 1928 Model A and discontinued the Model T all together.

Notice how the flanged cam disappears about midway through 1926, but also at this time the introduction of the drain comes in too. Then a bit further in 1926 (about July) Ford drops the stamped guides all together and goes with the riveted guides, probably because it was cheaper to perform one operation than the two it would take for the stamped and pressed version. Because instead of the die stamping of the plate for those guides, they just had to stamp 8 holes where those guides used to be and the next operation would be the riveting the plate, both to the axle housing and those guides in one step. Cutting out the press step that was previously required which probably was a cost cut as well...and you know how Ford was on saving money, canceling that extra step probably shave a buck or two off the production of this assembly.

Like I've said before, I get to see the progression of these assemblies through the years as a different idea came and sometimes went, but it is always fascinating...a pain in the butt most times getting things straight, but fascinating all the same....like I always say...fun never quits!

Are they the correct perches? I thought the 26-7 style, being mounted higher on the backing plate, meant that the shackle hole was in line with the mounting bolt, or am I getting confused with the TT items?

Allan from down under.

Martin, something didn't look quite right to my eye with the perches, and I had to go and check it out. Your drawing seems to show the curve in the perch beginning to start inwards from the backing plate and then arching upwards. In fact, they begin going upwards and arch into the centre. This puts the shackle hole in a different orientation on the end of the perch, hanging off the perch rather than sitting on top of it. This applies to the earlier drawings also.
However,it does not answer my query about the different perches used on the 26-7 models.

Allan from down under.

Allan, you're right those are the 14-25's...I thought I forgot something, just couldn't remember what...

Martyyn, it would be clearer if the perches were 'exploded' inwards a bit so they could be seen on the drawing.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.