Technical 55 plymouth. I made my own brake shoe centering tool.

I noticed on the rear of my 55 Plymouth. The brake shoes we're only contacting the drum on the top one inch or so of the shoe. Made me think that they were not centered in the drum. I found a video of a guy on YouTube, adjusting his brakes on a 54 Plymouth, and he made his own tool. And it looked easy enough, so I made one too. Got a nut that fit the axle shaft and a 1/2 inch bolt and a piece of eighth inch flat stock and there it is. Could also be used for 39 Fords with the lower adjusters. After going around and checking it turns out, the shoes were pushed all the way up in the adjustment. I got them all centered and drew a line down the center and made contact to see where they were touching. And it seems like they're right about in the middle, which should be good I think.

 

Nice job.

 

Fwiw the guy on YouTube used to make the tools and sell them, but another vendor bought one and had them copied. I have to make one as well

 

Yeah, the guy said he was from Canada and his friend made it for him.

 

Made one for my 1941-49 De Soto & Dodge

 

Nice work on those tools.
The one i made for my 53 Dodge was made in a hurry to see if it work.
Not beutyful but i got my brakes really good for the first time in years.

 

Ive always put slots in the bolt heads on the back side and then used a flathead screw driver to center them in the drum

 

I waited out and bought the correct Ammco 1750 tool - it seems this new version is what people have copied and are selling everywhere, the real tool can be found especially because of the old timers not using it anymore. I would seem to be expensive but sometimes you just need the right tool.
The beauty of it is that its actually a measuring caliper to measure the inside of your drum and the outside of your pads to set the clearance.
I had made on of these tools for the '33 Plymouth and It never felt exactly right. because your not checking the math on the inside of the drum. But if it works for you guys enjoy.

 

Those Ammco 1750 tools are seriously spendy on Ebay especially one that still has the box.

I think my car trailer has those early Mopar brakes on it if I ever decide to run brakes on the trailer with a surge brake kit.

 

This is how i use the tool.
I set the anchors for the shoes in groundposition acording to the shopmanual.
Then i apply the tool to center the brakeshoes in up and down position.
After that i put the drum back and adjust the brakes with the adjusters untill they drag some on both shoes.
What i belive is whats importend is to get the shoes centered.
Then its just to use the adjusters to take out the slack.
Edit.
With a big caliper you could measure the drum and the shoes unil its right after you centered the shoes.