We recently installed a dropped axle and juice brakes ("Lowered Expectations," May '05) on our restored '29 Model A Tudor, so it was only natural that we continue on from there with the installation of hydraulic brakes on the rear. Again we used a complete conversion kit from MT Car Products because for this project we really like the way Dave Wilton has designed his products to bolt up and upgrade an original Model A Ford with the least amount of fabrication and modification possible. In fact, beyond pulling the rear hubs and drilling a couple holes this is strictly a bolt-on affair.
MT Car Products offers different levels and options to its kits, and the one we'll be installing in this story is the complete "deluxe" rear kit using the 12-inch Bendix self-energizing full-contact brakes as were used as original equipment on prewar Lincoln automobiles. Hot rodders have long praised the great stopping power of the Lincoln-style brakes, and today the scarce units have been faithfully and 100-percent accurately reproduced for the discriminating enthusiast who requires that their vehicle be period correct with the best available new parts. Beyond the fully loaded and ready-to-install backing plates, the "deluxe" kit also includes new drums, reconditioned hubs, pre-formed brake lines, emergency brake cables, and all the necessary hardware required for installation.
Even though we were already familiar with the ease of the installation of the front-brake conversion, the rear kit went on even easier (perhaps because the designer Dave Wilton assisted us this time) than we ever imagined. In the first story we installed MT Car Products "basic" kit with '40 Ford-style backing plates and our own used drums. Since the back was now sportin' the Lincoln-style Bendix backing plates and fresh drums, we went ahead and upgraded the front with matching hardware. All the pieces mount up exactly the same and require no additional modifications. Another upgrade added was a set of MT Car Products wire wheel support rings to keep our Kelsey Hayes spoke wheels tightly mounted to the drums without damaging the wheels. Originally Fords that came equipped with wire wheels (up to 1935) had an inner support for the mounting surface of the original wire wheels cast into the original brake drums. The later drums originally designed for disc-style rims lacked this support and over time wire wheels mounted to the later drums will become damaged and lug nuts can loosen and various dangers can ensue from there.
By the time you are reading this MT Car Products will also be offering another great new safety product, brand-new Buick finned aluminum brake drums and new hubs which can be added to any of their 1928 to 1948 Ford brake packages or bolted on to your existing early Ford brakes with no modifications necessary. We already know of a few cars we can't wait to mount these on!
All the pieces you will need...
All the pieces you will need to convert your Model A rearend to Lincoln-style Bendix full-contact hydraulic brakes come ready to install in a complete kit from MT Car Products.
After removing the rear wheels,...
After removing the rear wheels, the first step to better braking is the removal of the original rear drums. A hub puller is the only tool required and is not usually found in the most basic of toolboxes.
The emergency brake assembly...
The emergency brake assembly on the stock rearend has its own narrow full shoe and was removed after disconnecting the mechanical brake rods.
After removing the four inner...
After removing the four inner bolts, the emergency brake support ring and original backing plate were separated from the rearend.
Dave scribed marks approximately...
Dave scribed marks approximately 1 inch from the ends of the supplied preformed brake lines on the wishbones before removing them.
Using the scribed locations,...
Using the scribed locations, holes were drilled in the wishbones and then tapped to mount aircraft-style Adel clamps to secure the brake lines to the wishbones. These clamps will keep the brake lines from vibrating and chattering on the wishbone.
The brake line junction block...
The brake line junction block was attached to the driver-side wishbone. This block connects to the master cylinder (see "Lowered Expectations," May '05) and feeds both rear brake lines.
The brake line junction block...
The brake line junction block was attached to the driver-side wishbone. This block connects to the master cylinder (see "Lowered Expectations," May '05) and feeds both rear brake lines.
From this angle you can see...
From this angle you can see the special spacers MT Car Products supplies with their kit which spaces the backing plate away from the axle so no modifications to either part is required. Without the spacers the backing plate would touch the rear spring mount. The supplied pre-bent brake line connected to the wheel cylinder.
The brake line was attached...
The brake line was attached to the block that was then attached to the master cylinder with a supplied flexible rubber brake hose. This setup is modeled after the tried-and-true system used on all prewar hydraulic-brake-equipped Fords.
The brake line was attached...
The brake line was attached to the block that was then attached to the master cylinder with a supplied flexible rubber brake hose. This setup is modeled after the tried-and-true system used on all prewar hydraulic-brake-equipped Fords.
The supplied emergency brake...
The supplied emergency brake cables attached to the e-brake mechanisms inside the backing plates.
The forward end of the new...
The forward end of the new emergency brake cables ingenuously connected to the original e-brake assembly that originally accentuated the solid mechanical brake rods. Slick!
The reconditioned rear hub,...
The reconditioned rear hub, which includes a special spacer to match the one on the backing plate, slid right on the axle.
The new USA-made drum is a...
The new USA-made drum is a high-quality item that slips right into place on the hub (note: original drums were swedge-fit to the hubs).
Because we are using bent-spoke...
Because we are using bent-spoke Kelsey Hayes wheels (same applies to any early Ford spoke wheels) it was necessary to use these wheel support rings from MT Car Products to avoid stressing the wheels that were originally designed for use with drums with inner supports cast into them (all 1935 and earlier Fords). This self-centering wheel support stays in place and due to its size are not easily lost or forgotten during wheel changes.
The final addition was the...
The final addition was the Speedster Friction Shock from MT Car Products that really gives the installation an old-time racy look. These shocks can be adjusted to fit the driver's preference where ride is concerned.