Classic/Antique Car Repair: Adjusting Brakes on a 1938 Ford DeLuxe, anchor pin, bolt head

Question
Can you tell me how to adjust cable brakes on a 1938 Ford Deluxe 2-Door Sedan?  Or can you suggest a really good source?

Answer
For the normal adjustment, it is pretty simple.  Just release the hand brake all the way, then tighten the adjusting wedge at each wheel until the brake just drags, then back it off until the wheel just turns free.

There is a much more involved procedure to follow if the brake system has been completely disassembled.  The recommended procedure requires a "dummy" drum, because you have to set the clearances between the linings and the drum with the drum in place, and this requires the special drum.  

Assuming you don't have one, the alternative procedure is to disconnect the cables at all 4 wheels, then tighten the adjuster as above, but leave it dragging. Then loosen the lock nut and tap the anchor  pin toward the drum, with a light hammer.  Turn the anchor pin either way to minimize the drag on the drum. Then take up some more on the adjuster to get some drag back and repeat the turning of the anchor pin to again minimize the drag.  Repeat both steps until there is no more slop in this wheel, and leave the adjustment set for drag for now.  Repeat this process for all 4 wheels, then attach each cable after shortening or lengthening each cable so that you have to pull about 25 pounds on it to get it to hook up.

If you don't have a spring scale to measure the 25 pound pull, make yourself one by taking a bolt that you can ruin, clamp the threads in a strong vice, then take your torque wrench and set it to 25 foot pounds of torque.  Now, measure 1 foot out on the handle from the center of the bolt and mark it with a piece of tape.   Now, put the torque wrench on the bolt head, and pull on the wrench handle at the tape mark until the torque wrench indicates 25 pounds.   That is what a 25 pound pull feels like.  

Try to pull on the cables that hard when you hook them up. Make sure each cable is routed correctly and the cable conduits are seated firmly in the frame and brake support brakets.  Then back off each wheel adjuster so the wheels just turn freely.

Now, pull the handbrake up 2 clicks, and go around the car one more time, feeling the drag on each wheel, and fine turn the adjuster until all 4 wheels feel about the same drag.

You're done.  Test drive the car to see if it stops pretty evenly, without one wheel grabbing first.

Dick