After being gone for a few days, I got back on the car last night. As I reread the instructions in the manual and looked at what I had I realized all the right parts were there but had been put together all wrong.

Maybe someone discovered a better way at some point but I doubt that. I took the brakes all apart and put them back together the way the manual showed. Part of the problem is the diagram in the manual is quite small and being a reproduction is not real legible. Now that they are done, time to move on to the the front brakes and then the linkage.

Let’s begin by asking if you have the monthly service manual for the year 1929? Purchase them as you will see different illustrations and directions to adjust brakes.

The first item of discussion is the two cross over rods. One is for the front brakes and the other is for the rear brakes. The next item to look at the cross-member linkage that connects the two cross members.

There is an extended tab with a hole on both cross members.  The extend pieces with the hole in them are to attach the cross-member linkage.

The brake alignment tool is no longer made for the 1929. The tool fits over the two cross members and has a welded pin to fit into the front wheel cross member extended tab.

Below is the photo from the 1929 service manual. Look at the center circle. The crossover member linkage is lined up by a special tool. The tool is no longer made.

I will clarify my notes on the center circle illustration.

This shows the special alignment tool placed over both cross- members.

It is installed going from the front brake cross member to the rear brake cross member.

“A” is the rear cross member for the rear brakes.

“B” is the front cross member for the front brakes.

“C” is the extended arm with a hole in it.

The front cross member extended arm must be 90 degrees to the floor to attach the cross-member linkage from front to rear.

Also, I would put the rear wheels back on the drums so you can turn the rear drums easily while making adjustment.

I hope this helps you --Paul

@paul-baresel 

Thanks Paul,

• As I said in my last post, I figured out the rear brakes had been all messed up sometime in the past. I have finished both front and rear brakes. Using the diagrams available I have made the
•  tool to set the front and rear bias out of plywood.
• I have pulled the assembly of the front and rear cross shafts out of the car as the front shaft barely moves and the rear shaft is stuck tight.
• PB Blaster is at work on that issue.

The Filling Station used to carry the alignment tool.

You must oil ALL of the moving brake parts at least once a year with good oil not WD40. That means all the linkages, all the pivots, all the clevises, all the shafts, and the sockets the shafts fit into - everything. Front and rear. The brake return springs are not very strong and if these band style brakes drag they become useless quickly because of heat. On these cars the rear brakes provide 60 percent of the stopping power and the front 40 percent. It is predetermined by the brake cross shafts. This is different from the modern brakes where the front does 70 percent and the rear 30. Remember this was only the second year of 4 wheel brakes on the Chevrolet marquee, and they did not know much about weight transfer or trust front wheel brakes. The front brakes in '28, and '29 were basically the same, but the rear bands and the cross shafts were drastically different. In '30 much more research went into those brakes and they were completely redesigned.

Some time back there was an article on the AACA forum that had some good basic advice about band style brakes and their adjustments.

@arthur-p-sell

Thanks for all the info. I understand the need for lubrication.  This car has been in storage  since 97 and only exercised occasionally. Last driven in 2007.

The 2 cross shafts were pretty much siezed to the two outer brackets. I disassembled as need to take care of that. I have adjusted front and rear to just touch the drums on the high spot and we will see how it goes.

Sounds as if you are having fun!

Yes, I am.