Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1933 Graham Blue Streak, lockheed brakes, hydraulic brakes

Question
QUESTION: Dick,
 I have been working on my Lockheed hydraulic brakes (original to the car).  Two questions.  First is the longer shoe go towards the front of the car?  Second how important are the shoe retaining springs (shoe to backer plate)I was able to reproduce the spring with a modified spring of similar rate size and shape.

Thanks,
Scott
MN, USA

ANSWER: The longer shoe always goes toward the BACK of the car, not the front.  The hold down springs are not critical - if the ones you have made hold the shoes up against the backing plate and won't come undone, the brakes should be fine that way.

Dick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dick,
 Are you sure about the long shoe to the back?  I have asked lots of people (you were on vacation) no one was sure.  The Lockheed looks like a normal seventies car drum set up one long and one short shoe.  For some reason all my brakes have had the long shoe to the front.  I have a copy of the vintage veteran brake manual it has no specific reference to leading trailing shoe compared to front rear of the car.  I believe Franklin and Packard used the same Lockheed brakes in the early 30's?

Thanks,
Scott

Answer
I think I'd best back off on my certainty - some Lockheed brakes were backwards (long shoe to the front), but I have no experience with 1933 Grahams.  My books only go back to 1935 on Packard, and those were the usual long shoe to the back, but I'd be more comfortable if you could find someone with direct experience on your particular car.  Failing that, I'd suggest you try it both ways and see which way the brakes feel better - just drive slowly in a place where if they lock up on you it won't cause an accident!  If the car had the long shoe to the front when you got the car, and the brakes performed OK in that setup, perhaps you should just stay with it.  Putting the shoes on in the wrong position would cause unequal wear  rates, and you could inspect the old shoes to see if they had been wearing evenly - if so, they were probably put together correctly.

Sorry not to be more knowledgeable about your car - it's a rare one!

Thanks for keeping an old car original, by the way -

Dick