Brakes: '52 champion front brake shoes?

[champion52]

I removed the front hub/drum to grease the wheel bearings on my new '52 champion. While I had the drums off, I also inspected the shoes. These are supposed to be self adjusting, with the adjusters in the foward brake shoe,(No star wheel adjustment). I found no sign of these adjusters in either shoe. Besides missing, the shoes didn't have the cut-out's in them for the adjuster hardware.The brakes stop fine & the pedal feel is very good.I can only assume the original self-adjusting hardware & shoes were substituted in the past.
Now for the big question. How do I adjust these brakes for wear?? Did the previous owner adjust the length of the brake pedal free play to acomplish this? How can I determine what brake shoes were retro-fitted to replace?
Any Insight Would Be Greatly Appreciated!,
Steve

[Lothar]

There are brake adjustment cam wheels on the backing plates just like any other drum brake setup. They have four-sided studs (9/16"?) sticking out the back.The previous owner of my 50 Champion chucked the adjusters and welded a wedge into the web of the forward shoe that sits up against the cam. I adjust my brakes occasionally just like manual brakes by adjusting the cam wheels until the brakes drag on the wheels just slightly. If you don't have the wedge, I don't think the front cams are big enough to provide any adjustment, unless they or the entire backing plate were replaced at some point.
Adjusting the pedal free play shouldn't affect anything other than how far down the pedal is when it bottoms out.

1950 Champion 4 Dr.
Holdrege NE

[champion52]

Thank's Lothar!
I was looking for a traditional star wheel adjuster. When I first took a look inside, I only saw the anchor block in its place.I see now where the cam's were hiding behind the brake shoes. The drum/hub will have to come off again to see if the previous owner welded the tab onto the shoe like your setup.
The shop manual for '52 only calls for the self adjusters to adjust the front shoe, while the rear shoe floating cam is left in the full off position,with no adjustment necessary.Do you still adjust this rear cam due to the absence of the self adjusters?
Also, the front brake shoes have no slot in them for the self adjuster pin. Which brake shoes do I order to replace these? Is there an interchange brake shoe part# that will duplicate the no-slot shoes I already have?
Thank's again for the cam adjustment clarification. I would have only found the cams if I removed the shoes!
Steve

[Lothar]

Studebaker Int'l. lists correct re-lined brake shoes for 1947-53 Champions as part #800180 (p. 169). The forward shoes (as you may know) have a hole in them for the self-adjuster wear button.
As to adjustment, I adjust the forward shoe first, then the rear shoe, which is the way I used to do it with my old 1950 Ford pick-up, which had manually adjusting brakes. That doesn't mean its THE right way to do it, its just the way that I do it.
I should note in the way of a disclaimer that modifying the brake system design on a car carries with it certain risks, such as death due to brake failure. That said, I have gotten along very well for several hundred miles on brakes with this modification, and the previous owner apparently ran them for thousands of miles. The key, in my opinion, is for the welded wedge to back against the web of the brake.

1950 Champion 4 Dr.
Holdrege NE

[champion52]

The foward shoes in my front brakes have no hole for the self-adjusters. Obviously the original shoes were replaced with the "No Hole" shoes that are on the Champion now. I would rather purchase the "No Hole" shoes when I have to replace the old one's. Maby I'll take the old shoes to the local parts store & have them look up the same set.
Thank's Lothar, for the adjustment sequence! The pedal height is fine for now & the brakes feel very good. I'm sure we can't be the only Studebaker owners to have had the brakes modified to elimate the self-adjusters.
Steve

[Mark57]

Keep an eye on Studebaker parts on eBay as well Steve... brake shoes seem to come up with some regularity there. I have purchased a complete sets of shoes for my truck off eBay in the past 12 months at very reasonable cost.

You should post a pic of your '52 when you get a chance. [8D]

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar Deluxe
Vancouver Island

Are you planning to attend the NW Overdrive Tour in Parksville, BC
May 23 & 24, 2009?</h5>

[52-fan]

If you are going to completely rebuild your brakes in the future you should change to the V-8 size drum assembly. I have driven many miles in my 52 with the stock Champion self-adjusting brakes and they work well if you are not in a big hurry to stop. There have been a few close calls, but by making sure I allow plenty of room so far so good. A stock set-up from any V-8 powered car 53 up will bolt on or you could go with a 51 or 52 Commander self adjusting set if it was available.


1952 Champion Starlight, 1962 Daytona, both w/overdrive.Searcy,Arkansas
"I may be lazy, but I'm not shiftless."

[champion52]

Thank's to all for the advice & tips for my brakes. I took a look at the M/C today & it was leaking a little fluid so it looks like I'll be replacing that first!
I won't be taking "Abby" to any shows till I'm sure she's roadworthy.

[mrkstudebaker]

I have a 51 Champion, which way do you turn the accentrics ?? Like to adjust the free pedal.

[jclary]

Instructions are in your shop manual. I think it is to turn the eccentric towards the front when adjusting the front shoe and towards the back when adjusting the back shoe on each wheel. However, the older I get, the more I have to consult my manuals. Since it’s been a few weeks since I’ve done the job, trust your shop manual before relying on my opinion.

[jackb]

...... I like the new trend of replying to 13 year old threads.....!

[mrkstudebaker]

Thank you I couldn’t find where it said which way to turn them I just said to turn them in the manual. So I started looking on the for him to find out if anybody else and ran into this problem. I just couldn’t find any which way shape or form on Which way

[jclary]

Thank you I couldn’t find where it said which way to turn them I just said to turn them in the manual. So I started looking on the for him to find out if anybody else and ran into this problem. I just couldn’t find any which way shape or form on Which way

Well, the manual I last used was for my truck, and and not the one for my 51 car. But, both use the same type eccentric type adjusters with the exception that the trucks don’t have those automatic adjusting mechanisms. The initial manual adjusting is still required with the automatic adjusters to establish a starting point for the automatic mechanism to work.

By the way, I didn’t notice that you had posted this by reviving an old thread. There’s no penalty if you want to create a new thread in the tech forum for your particular car and problem.

[Rainwalker]

I'd be VERY, VERY cautious buying supposed "Studebaker" brake shoes on eBay! Seems the dealers on there buy out old parts stores and if they can't match up the product numbers to anything in party, they will gladly sell it to you at an outrageous price, claiming it to fit " Studebaker, this or that"! Know your product and it's shape, etc., first!🦃

[Rainwalker]

Amen brother!!!🏅