OK, I am about 1/4 of the way through the rear brake job on the old F5, I guess I didn't take enough pictures and the manual is not clear on the question I have. Since I had to take the drums to a machine shop to get turned, I removed everything at once, and now I don't have the "other side" to look at.

This style of brake (Double Anchor) has one brake shoe lining that is long (primary), and one that is short (secondary) at each wheel. Which one goes where??? The manual shows the primary brake shoe on the left and the secondary on the right. Does this hold true at all 4 wheels??

I will post some pictures to my build thread tomorrow. Like most of you, I am sick of all the rust, crud, and grime, so everything is getting cleaned and painted as I go. On top of that, I have two weeks off, so now it's time to play catch up on all the work I haven't done on the truck in the last couple of months. AND, Santa might bring me a hoist for Christmas .

Thanks for the help,

Eric

 

On the double anchor "Lockheed style" brakes, the big shoe goes to the front see here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post13595782

 

Thanks Jeremy,

I see that this was discussed in length a few months ago. I didn't see it then, guess I was too busy with work. I should have one side all back together today, hopefully driving again by the end of the month.

Eric

 

Nice truck!

I love your pic #12 of the "boss" removing the bed wood.

Why do you suppose the rope was wrapped around the park brake handle?

 

The most amazing thing about this post is the fact that you actually found somebody who IS willing to turn these drums. I hunted for weeks, calling virtually every machine shop within 250 miles of me and was unable to find anyone willing to do them.

 

I just happen to know an "old school" machinist that did them no problem, and it only set me back $150. His owns North Central NV Machine. It is a machine shop in Carlin, NV, and he does a lot of custom work for the mining industry.

 

Last I talked to them, D and D Auto in Carrollton, TX can still do them.

 

I didn't know it had gotten to be such a problem to get big drums cut. I have been cutting my own on an antique drum lathe that I found in an abandoned Ford Dealership years ago.
Chuck

 

Chuck,

Any idea what the tolerance for the front drums are? I just got mine off and they are hammered . Nice rivet grooves in each drum, these might be toast???

 

If you mean the max diameter for the drums, it should be clearly stamped into the castings.

 

7RT-1125-D .. Front Brake Drum / Obsolete

Applications: 1948/52 F4/F5/F6 & F5/F6 COE

Parts catalog pic: Front Drum-Disc Wheel ~ 12th entry.

 

Fronts can only be .020 over, so I'm sure yours are toast. I looked into getting new ones made, but it was too expensive.
Chuck

 

Chuck,
Just out of curiosity how much was the asking for someone to reproduce the drums? I know the tolerance is .020 for fronts and .060 for rears but would it be possible to take more off and use thicker shoe material? I did see a place online called Dynabrake who says they have the ability to build drums to spec. I'm sure it would be pretty pricey but didn't know if anyone had checked them out.

 

I don't remember the exact price, but I'm thinking it was around $350.00 each, and you had to order more than 2. It could have been even more. Whatever it was, there was no way I could even think about moving forward.
Thicker linings would work, within reason, of course. The issue is that the diameter of the drums has to match the diameter of the shoes, since they are rigidly mounted. Odds are the shoes would have to be ground to fit the drums.
Chuck

 

Ouch!
you weren't kidding with the expense.