Yep, the smaller shoes are the "Primary" shoes. They are smaller to allow
movement to tighten the action for better stopping when braking. This is the
Bendix design, use way up in years till disc brakes took over. I always
remember Primary as "first" and so first in line from front or something
like that. Sounds goofy now that I'm saying it! I used to have problem
remembering at first and you are right, not all pictures say which way was
front. Some books say to only remove one side at a time, so other side can
be used as reference for reassembly. Good idea! Watch out for adjusters
being mixed up as they have diff direction threads. Seems like also one is
adjuster to front one side and back on other. Depends on the self-adjuster
movements, but you probly don't have adjusters on that old of truck. Maybe
they are the same, not sure now. Doesnt' matter, have to figure out
direction to move adjuster tool thru backing plate and it's always a pain.
Adjust them out as far as you can to still get drums on, work brakes some,
then adjust, less turning with the adjusting tool for sure is better than
more!
G. L. Perry
Huntington, IN 46750
glperry@fwi.com
Big AD trucks, COE
MM tractors and 1 Oliver!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Edward Miller" <edngael@open.org>
To: "oletrucks" <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 8:23 PM
Subject: [oletrucks] brake shoes
> Hi everybody,
>
> I renewed the brake components some time back for my '58 half ton truck,
> all but the solid brake lines. I have a question about the front brake
> shoes.
>
> The shoes for each side aren't the same: one has more pad area than the
> other. I removed my old ones and installed the new ones the same way,
> with the smaller pad shoe on the front, the larger behind. Is that
> right? I was looking at the picture in my shop manual, and it shows the
> smaller pad shoe opposite the adjuster star. But I don't know which
> side the picture is of. For the pictures of the heavier brake systems,
> there's a caption that points "forward", but not for mine. Figures.
> <whining>
>
> Thanks,
> Ed Miller
> '58 Apache Short Fleetside
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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