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| | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 30 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 30 | Hi Folks, I'm putting rear brakes on a '52 GMC 1/2 ton. The old ones were removed before I got the truck. One shoe has a larger (longer) bit of its circumfrence covered with friction material. Does this shoe go to the front of the wheel or the rear? are the front shes done in a similar fashion, or are they all 4 the same? Thanks, Tom :confused: | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 | | | | | | Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,028 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,028 | That's right the Big goes on the Back | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 627 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 627 | All 4 wheels are the same, shoe with longer pad goes on rear half of each.
Mike Barnes
1950 GMC 1-ton pickup
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,158 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,158 | Mike's right. They should all use the same pads.
3/4 ton and larger will take bigger pads in the rear. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 30 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 30 | Thanks guys, I'll get them on. Then, on to new steel lines and hoses! T | | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 70 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 70 | Side Question - the new bendix brake shoes I have for the rear end of a '53 halfton come with a thicker pad and a narrower pad, however, they are both the same length (and also width).
The pads are obviously different - in addition to the pad thickness, one pad has a wider stamped break pad backing metal that extends towards the top pivot point. And they have different numbers stamped on them.
Which one goes in the front of the drum? The thicker pad or the thinner pad?
Last edited by marklaken; 12/07/2009 5:35 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | Thick pad to the rear. On the rear brakes you have the emergency brake hardware to deal with. I take it you have serviced the wheel cyls.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,851 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,851 | The Bendix brake has a "floating" shoe assembly that pivots on the anchor pin above the wheel cylinder. There is no anchor at the bottom, only a starwheel adjuster. As the cylinder applies hydraulic pressure to the shoes, the rotation of the wheel pushes the long (rear) lining into the drum, assisting the brake action. This process is common to all Bendix-type brakes, regardless of which brand of automobile or truck they're used on.
Jerry
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| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 70 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 70 | I have new wheel cylinders. Redoing everything except hardlines - shoes, drums, wheel cylinders, flexible lines, discs up front, and power dual circuit master cylinder.
The shop manual is pretty clear that the longer pad goes to the rear. But the brand new brake pads I bought from an online vendor (manufactured by bendix) have shoes of equal lengths. It's only the pad thickness and the metal shape that differs on the two pairs of rear shoes. Guesstimate that 2 shoes come with 1/4" thick pads and two shoes and have maybe 1/8" thick pads.
The shop manual also says that the front pads in bendix brakes will wear out faster (the manual states at a rate upto twice as fast as rear shoes). This made me think to put the thick shoes up front...
Last edited by marklaken; 12/07/2009 11:56 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 187 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 187 | Sounds to me like they sent you the wrong shoes,the pad thickness should be the same,just longer on one shoe.
Also the metal part should be the same on both shoes.
_____________ Floyd If we choose being kind over being right,we will be right every time. Knowledge is a poor substitute for experience. Remember what is precious to another, may not be to you, but it is precious nonetheless. 1948 Chevy 2-Ton | | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | The rear shoes do most of the braking & wear. The fronts are usually shorter, thinner, & have softer linings therfore they may wear out sooner.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 70 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 70 | thanks for the help.
I double checked shoes at Autozone and they were the exact same size and shape as the ones I got (same price as well, but different name on the box).
Mine are the right radius, and everything fits and bolts up correctly. I don't think they are wrong, just different than the originals. | | |
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