Service Brake Question - 1927 DB Series 124

[Guest M R Simpers]

On the rear service brake band there is an "Outer Brake Band Lower Support". From the right side it is positioned at about 7:30. This band bracket goes over the square bar that is attached to the cast steel spider holding the thin backing plate. This square bar has a recess for the adjustment spring and a tapped hole to accept an adjustment bolt. My car is missing these bolts on both sides.

What is the length of this 5/16" NF adjustment bolt?

Is there a locking jamb nut for the adjustment bolt?

I have attempted a 2" long bolt with a jamb nut; however, the way it is configured the bolt will not tighten up. Maybe this is why my original bolts worked their way off.

What am I missing here?

Thanks....

M.R. Simpers

Cocoa, Fla.

[JayG]

I took a picture of my 27 124 and the bolt that you are missing. Unfortunately I can't get a measurement but I can tell you the head is drilled and there is a retaining wire holding it in place. This is the same on both sides. The picture was a little too close but if you need some more I can get better ones. Hope this helps. Jay

[Guest 1930]

Looks the same or similar in my car, I have spare trannies that I could easily snap a picture of if it would help

[Guest M R Simpers]

Thanks Fellows,

I've got it figured out. The "hat" on the brake band is 1.75" high. I had a full thread 3/8" NF x 2" (it wasn't 5/16" as I stated) which I cut to 1 5/8" long. I then drilled a small hole through the bolt head for the tie wire. It will works OK - I think. I still have to flip the car around to get to the left side, and after that, I'll adjust all brakes together. I won't tie these bolts down until I am pleased with the brake adjustment.

Let me digress and tell you all what I'm doing. I went out to the back garage 4 years ago and told myself it was time to start the old girl up. It'd only been sitting there 14 years. I raised the hood and reached over to the leather fan belt only to have it fall apart in my hand. This car was restored in the mid-1950's and brought to Florida from western Pennsylvania. I figured if I was going to start her, I needed to do it right. Well, the hood came off, the radiator came off, the head came off, etc. All parts have been checked out, gone through, painted and restored, and put away in numerous well identified cardboard boxes of which my wife complains about from time to time as she crawls over them on her way to her car. Starting at the front of the car I decided to clean, degrease, and paint the engine. This is where it got away from me... I ended up cleaning the entire inside of the chassis, the full drive train, and the full rear end. After scarping off the grease, it was washed down with lacquer thinner, and then primed and painted with "rattle cans." New tires were purchased (the one's on the car dates to the mid-'50's). I even took the spokes apart and gave them 15 coats of Petit marine varnish. I about ready to spin the car around and do the left side. Once those tires and brakes are done, I'll re-hang the cleaned, patched, sealed, and painted gas tank. I've even run a new gas line. Remember the old expression that "you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear"? Well, it might end up looking like that. I have no plans to paint the body sheet metal, and since this is a Cantrell bodied woodie, I have no plan to do the wood. I know how long those wood spokes took, and I not about to do that. I am now into "patina."

Thanks again...

M.R.

[JayG]

Good luck with it. I know what you are going through. I'm just gonna.... always turns out to be bigger than planned. In the end though you will be happy you did the extra.

[Guest 1930]

How about some pictures of your project?