[VB] [T2] BRake Shoes

[Sam Williams]

I now suspect that your problem is the drum to brake shoe match.
The correct thing to do is to radius the shoes to match the drums. This will ensure full contact and you will brake better.
Not all places have a  brake shoe radius machine but some of the old VW places do.


Sam Williams
sglw at aol.com




-----Original Message-----
From: c.dreike <c.dreike at verizon.net>
To: type2 <type2 at type2.com>; vintagebus <vintagebus at type2.com>
Sent: Wed, May 17, 2017 6:58 pm
Subject: Re: [VB] [T2] BRake Shoes

Further information:1. I took David's advice and tried to wear in the shoes by driving around the neighborhood in second gear and applying the brakes. Lots of heat. After cooling, they work much better and I would continue to use them.2. I found that the new run in metallic shoes I removed were not fully engaged with the drums. Maybe 30% contact. That would make a huge difference in the stopping power. I should use them for a time and see if the braking improves. If the drums had some meat left, I would have them turned.3. I installed the non-metallic shoes on the front. Braking is noticeably better, however the brakes squeal. I seem to recall replacing them some years ago for that reason. After driving around for a while, I returned home and parked in my garage. I checked the drums and found that the fronts were far hotter than the rears. The fronts had some smokey smell to them. I was not purposely using the brakes, just driving around normally. Due to the squeal I may swap back to the metallic shoes. These shoes make stopping feel as it did many years ago when I used the bus as a daily driver.4. Followed Kevin's advice on adjustment and ended up about 2 notches tighter on the rear and the parking brake is working better.5. I looked at my old shoes, front and rear, the shoes were fully engaged with the drums. Not happy with the braking, thus all the work and worry.6. I suspect that freshly turned drums would provide better braking.Since all but one of my drums is turned out to Max, I've decided that I should purchase new drums all around. Any suggestions?I see several vendors show drums on their websites.  Ron at Bus Depot says he will have some nice ones in a few months.Wolfsburg West has all drums (Brazilian or German) in stock as well as bearings and the front seals. German, not cheap, Brazilian, also not cheap but less.I'll post again on this subject.ChrisOn 5/16/2017 6:49 PM, c.dreike wrote:> Kevin,> Thanks for the tip.> That is exactly how I adjust my brakes. I still think that the > semi-metallic shoes don't have the friction that the older organic > shoes had.>> Chris>>> On 5/16/2017 2:57 PM, Kevin Guarnotta wrote:>>>> Hi Chris,>>>> The fact that your parking/emergency brake doesn’t seem to work well >> indicates to me that your rear brakes need some adjusting.>>>> That might be all you need to fix them? I generally adjust my brakes >> until the wheels are scraping the drums a little bit. I figure >> driving will wear that little bit off, then my brakes are nice and >> tight. Anyone have a better method – I’m all ears.>>>> -Kevin Guarnotta>>>> ’65 Kombi>>>> ’69 Singlecab>>>> ’78 Westy>>>> Jamaica Plain, MA USA__>>>> _______________________________________________> type2 mailing list> type2 at type2.com> https://www.type2.com/lists/type2/listinfo_______________________________________________vintagebus mailing listvintagebus at type2.comhttp://type2.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/vintagebus