Brake repair hurdle

[thebeebe5]

Took the opportunity to start the brakes on my p-4 today.  Knew when I bought the car I'd need to to the brakes and a leaking rear cylinder pushed me into the job today. I'd ordered needed parts from Bernbaum; shoes are their part number G-106.  I have cylinder rebuild kits from the local Napa.  Drums are a bit under 10" diameter but I haven't put a caliper on them.  If I recall correctly I'd read here that 10" is the drum size so I believe they are original, and I believe everything else to be as well, meaning I don't believe anyone swapped these brakes from a different year car.  Everything is cleaned up and ready to go back together and I realize there is no way these shoes will fit these drums....  They look to be for at least an 11" drum if not larger.  Anyone run into this problem before?  I'll post pictures from my phone in a couple minutes as I'm on the boss' computer at the shop and I've no way to get pictures to his desktop.  Assuming my only option is to have the shoes relined locally and reassemble because Bernbaum doesn't list another shoe for an older Plymouth that I can see.....

[thebeebe5]

Here's what I found this am in the way of a leak, and also a shot of the shoes set into the drums. I'd figured on having to fit the shoes to the drums, but these just look WAY too big...

[casper50]

My guess is that you are correct.  They are too large.

[desoto1939]

Yes they are not correct even if they were a little off size the brake lining should at least be touching the brake drum throught out the arc.

 

Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

[desoto1939]

here is your official answere from Mu EIS Brake catalog

 

The Lining should be number 1137 which is used by all manufacturers

  drum diameter 10 inches

width 2 inches

thickness 3/16

 length 7 5/8  2 of these  and 10 1/4 two of these

use the 4-5 rivet and need 28 rivets if using riveted lining

 

So take a tape measure and measure the entire arc of the replacement shoe I think he sent you 11 inch and not 10 inch brake shoes.

 

These same linings were used on Desoto 1937 1936

Ply 1939 P8 P7 ans some other Plymouth

 

I have a full EIS and Wagner catalog and also EIS brake cable catalog that will provide you will al information.  These are on CD and the catalog is great to have as reference to keep your car running.  These catalogs are getting harder to find just because of the age and being paper.

 

Contact me if you want a set.

 

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

home 610-630-9188

[thebeebe5]

Thank you very much for the information Rich. I'd hoped to avoid pulling these apart and waiting while the existing shoes were relined.... Looks like I can't avoid it now and will have to leave the car at the shop until that task is done. I'm hoping AZ Brake and Clutch can do that job for me before next weekend.

Assuming I cannot return these shoes to Bernbaum as I ordered them 6 months ago. Any idea what Mopar they might fit so I can try to sell them to someone else that needs them...?

[Jerry Roberts]

Why don't you ask Bernbaum if you can return the shoes . Explain the situation , he can only say no . 

[thebeebe5]

Why don't you ask Bernbaum if you can return the shoes . Explain the situation , he can only say no .

. Will do on Monday. Got no answer today.

In addition to having incorrect shoes, someone installed a substitute cylinder on the right rear. Its considerably larger than the passenger side cylinder, and it uses a banjo connection for the brake line: definitely not original. Not sure how bad it was to have such a different size cylinder... Maybe no big deal. This is the one that was leaking. The cylinder on the driver's side was completely frozen. I had to drive the pistons and cups out with a drift and good sized hammer. I'll be ordering new replacements Monday as well.

Serioslu can't wait to get this job done. Seems (the way the brakes pull left) that the only working brake was my driver's front.

:-/

[Robert Horne]

Years ago, I bought shoe linings for my 38 Coupe, that were too large.

The shoes were for a 38 Plymouth truck.

 I ended up buying shoes at the local auto parts store, for a Ford Granada. 2"x10"..

I used the Ford linings and riveted the linings to my Plymouth shoes.

Has worked good many years now.

[desoto1939]

they look to be 11 inch shoes if so then I know they will fir my 39 Desoto

 

rich hartung

[thebeebe5]

Called Bernbaum and they will will swap them out. In the meantime AZ Brake and Clutch will reline what I took off and I'll probably use them and keep the Bernbaum's on the shelf. Cheaper to reline, and should have looked into it before I ordered.

Extra shoes woun't be the worst thing I have on the shelf around here.

Edited February 8, 2016 by thebeebe5

[Merle Coggins]

If Bernbaum will swap them for you why not do that anyway. At least then the spare brake shoes on the shelf will be the proper ones. Unless he's going to upcharge you for the swap.