Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Tony:

Took driver side hub off. Easy enough! Took out the brake shoes. Easy enough! Notice my brake shoes don't have the lining along the entire length of the shoe? Why is that?!?! The ebay ones are getting more and more attractive.

Tony,

On almost all drum brakes with the wheel cylinder at the top the leading (front) shoe always has a larger lining on it. The trailing (rear) shoe always has a smaller lining on it. The front shoe provides most of the braking force when going forward. The drag between the drum and linings tends to apply more force to the front shoe and less to the rear shoe when going forward.
In reverse, less speed is achieved which means less braking force is required so the rear shoe has a smaller lining. If the linings were the same area as the front ones you would get "reverse whiplash" when you touched the brakes driving in reverse.

Cheers,