MTFCA Forum

I have a 1927 T Roadster Pickup. Went on a 60 mile tour today. Had a great time. We went down several hills and I need to add better brakes. Any one use the BRAKE EQUALIZER T-2565-X "26-27" from Snyders. What are your thoughts on this brake equalizer?
Phillip
College Grove, TN

Might be worth a try but frankly I recommend either Rocky Mountain or AC brakes. I love my Rockies!

I am with Tim, Rocky Mountains or AC type will be the best and good piece of mind.

Hank

I put one on my 26 Tudor this spring and have been very satisfied with it. It took a while to get the equalizer set up to apply the brakes in conjunction with the transmission brake, but nothing too bad. I also have good linings on my brakes ( replaced those a year ago).

In full disclosure I've only only ever driven my Model T so I don't have experience with any other accessory brakes.
I opted for this setup over the Rockies not due to cost, but because I drive my car often enough in the rain that I didn't want brakes that were open to the weather.

Mine is working great but I had to change the lining on the brake band and added a 2mm thick plate at the underside of the the brake shaft where the band touch the shaft and 1mm thick plate at the upper side to get the band closer to the drum and make the braking faster and more efficient.

I also had to grind off the under side of the E-Z adjuster slider to clear the neutral shaft when operating the brakes.

Andre
Belgium

Good call Andre! I forgot, but I too had to do a bit of grinding on the EZ adjuster. Nothing difficult, just burned a few minutes.

Forgot to tell:
Use the spring setup that go with the equalizer to prevent drag on the brakes.

Andre
Belgium

I have a home made brake equalizer that pulls on transmission brake and internal rear brakes on my 27 coupe at the same time. It still allows the parking brake handle to be used independently of the transmission brake. It works will for me, I do notice that if you really push the braking for a long period of time the drums will expand and you brakes will not work as well. But they are rain proof and the hot expanding drums only happened once for me. The other issue is that when you are slowing down, and you have the brake on, it will have the transmission brake and the rear wheels brakes on at the same time, and under this condition it is near impossible to shift the Ruckstell. You have to let up on the brakes, down shift the Ruckstell then get back on the brakes.

Don't forget real Rocky Mountain and AC brakes used pulleys for the brake cables. That's all the equalizer you need!

I ordered the brake equalizer and hopefully will install next week.
Is there a video of the install somewhere?
Phillip

I did not find the directions very helpful installing and setting up the brakes. Finally I put the rear end up on jack stands, took the wheel off, removed the key, put the wheel back on and set the hand brake to where I could not rotate the wheel (locked up), but could freely rotate the wheel with the brake off. Next with the hand brake on, (could not rotate wheel), set the foot brake nut up to where it too was in a position to lock up the wheels. i put several nuoff-on behind both to act as a lock nut and to strengthen the rather thin threaded rod that attaches to the extension welded on the foot brake. This process seemed to give good stopping with the foot pedal and a firm hand brake. Afterward be sure to reinstall the key, tightening the axel nut and securing with a cotter key.