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Technical Lincoln brake shoes

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by dwollam, Nov 26, 2021.

  1. dwollam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2012
    Posts: 2,321

    dwollam
    Member

    My '32 Sedan project has a dropped '32 axle with Lincoln backing plates and Buick finned drums and '40 hubs inside the drum. They all came on the axle. I pulled the drums and backing plates to see if things were correct and right off I noticed the brake shoes are not centered and also only measure 11.5" I think the 1st issue is the shoes are wrong at the upper pivot which causes them to not be centered. Where can I buy correct shoes? The ones in it are 1.75". Can I go to 2" shoes? Is this an original Lincoln or aftermarket? If aftermarket, who's is it? Its hard to see the off center of the shoes in this pic but it is substantial. Do the numbers on the shoes mean anything to anyone?

    Thanks,

    Dave

    20211123_160420.jpg 20211123_160438.jpg 20211123_160446.jpg 20211123_160529.jpg 20211123_160550.jpg 20211123_160605.jpg 20211123_161240.jpg 20211123_161254.jpg 20211123_161331.jpg
     
  2. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,176

    manyolcars

    I have 2" shoes on my Lincoln plates on my avatar. They fit about 3/16" inside the drums. In other words, the drum is about 3/16 wider than the shoes. Tell the parts store that you want shoes for 71-76 Chevy BIG station wagon ONLY
     
    dirt t, stillrunners and dwollam like this.
  3. Those look like original Lincoln backing plates so the upper post is adjustable and the star wheel also needs to be adjusted.
    Back off the upper adjuster nut and tape a .010 long feeler gauge across the top of the brake shoes and apply the brake pedal, then adjust the star wheel and tighten the upper post lock nut with the drum installed.
    Original Lincoln drums had a slot in the outside face of the drum for the feeler gauge to be inserted for that adjustment.
     
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  4. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    Those are real Lincoln backing plates. Some sources say they can fit the available 2" shoes in the old Ford drums.

    You can tell for sure that somebody has been drilling weird holes on the lower ends of your shoes. Who knows what they are supposed to fit? What's a half inch between friends, right?
     
    dwollam likes this.

  5. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,176

    manyolcars

  6. dwollam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2012
    Posts: 2,321

    dwollam
    Member

    Thanks guys, all of you! I had no idea the upper pivot was adjustable. As far as applying the brake pedal, it's a long long ways from having brakes at all! Just want to put things together correctly.

    Would that be front or rear on the chevy? Or does it matter? Or did those have discs on the front?

    Dave
     
  7. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    I just bought a Lincoln brake spring kit from Carillo Customs. I know they have the original width shoes as well. Be aware the shoes are spendy. If you can use some of the other off brand shoes as suggested, more power to ya.
     
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  8. dwollam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2012
    Posts: 2,321

    dwollam
    Member

  9. Glenn Thoreson
    Joined: Aug 13, 2010
    Posts: 926

    Glenn Thoreson
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    Bendix brakes are self centering. You can push them over where you want them, install the drum and adjust. You can use 2" shoes but I would wear out the ones you have first. If you use station wagon shoes, be sure you get the rear shoes. Everything you show looks good to me.
     
    dwollam likes this.
  10. dwollam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2012
    Posts: 2,321

    dwollam
    Member

  11. deucemac
    Joined: Aug 31, 2008
    Posts: 1,483

    deucemac
    Member

    I am running F2 backing plates off a 1950 F2. Basically the same backing plate. I use 2"x 12 shoes with my finned aluminum Buick drum. Trade number 33 and bought them from NAPA.
     
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  12. dwollam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2012
    Posts: 2,321

    dwollam
    Member

    Ordered some 12x2 Chevy wagon shoes yesterday. The pics showed the correct upper pivot offset and the spring holes at the bottom as well. Less than $28 shipped so no big loss if they don't work. We will see!

    Dave
     
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2021
    Jrs50 likes this.
  13. dwollam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2012
    Posts: 2,321

    dwollam
    Member

    Had a hard time finding the '71-'76 Chevy 12x2 shoes but finally did at rockauto. Only had one set and they were in close out so price was cheap! Shipping was a little more than the shoes but total with shipping was under $28. They are thicker metal than the ones I had so I had to get creative with the flap wheel and angle grinder. I got them all assembled and back on the car. I cut the notch in the adjusters a little wider and flap wheeled the shoes where the w/c pins slide over them. I think they will work fine, but that is still a long time off.

    Dave

    20211204_141354.jpg
     
  14. dwollam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2012
    Posts: 2,321

    dwollam
    Member

    Final step on front brakes etc was to remove the too short lug studs from the '40 hubs and press in new longer modern Dorman studs. Also had to slightly drill larger the holes in the Buick drums to fit over the longer shanks properly. All bolted back together now and quite round and smooth!
    Sorry for forgetting pics of the hubs while apart. :(

    Dave
     

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