22-01-2018, 10:27 PM
(22-01-2018, 01:33 PM)squeak Wrote:(22-01-2018, 10:17 AM)JonE Wrote: Russell - how were drums considered for your strategy for Chummy and Apex? Did you feel the need for cast items that have been advocated by others as being the best improvement for braking (just because of the worn nature of many original drums)?
Jon the 28 chummy brakes have had an upgrade in the past to semi girling fronts.
In MY ownership I treated it to 4 cast iron drums from the spares pile, and new bonded soft linings. The standard early radius arms were boxed and sundry bushings replaced, the uncoupled cross shaft was beefed up by adding (welding) a steel connection piece from the shaft bearings forward to the chassis crossmember. THEN, I paid careful attention to play in the linkages and achieving a 90 deg angle at the junction between cable and lever, at point of maximum braking effort.
The results were quite good, probably as good as the aforementioned 38 ruby, so I have not sought new drums.
The Apex is not on the road and will get similar brakes to the chummy.
Recently my wife and I toured the UK in a 27 top hat and the brakes were RUBBISH despite my replacing the linings, cables and on road adjustments. We DID feel the need for Tony's new cast iron drums and fitted a set, the brakes are still uncoupled and still rubbish.
I'm sure now that I'm home with the saloon and access to a hoist, I'll be able to make the cross shaft support connections, and fine tune the braking and suspension condition. I will keep Tony's new drums on and pay more attention to the linings contact area.
We use the top hat weekly and in common with other seven owners, we have a well developed sense of anticipation.
Anticipation of a pleasant outing. cheers Russell
A club member who was a brake man at GMH during his career ventured the opinion that the original light drums were better able to conform to the shoes as they pivot, giving full lining contact.
Any new linings should be ground to the radius of the drum inside diameter when applied and not rounded at rest.
Cheers Tony.