i took the drum off my 66 mustang and i think the break shoes were on backwards. the primary shoe pad(one facing the front of the car) is smaller than the secondary(one facing the rear of the car). is that how they are supposed to be because i was always tought that the primary is larger than the secondary. someone please let me know if mine is mixed up or thats how they are supposed to be

 

The rear shoe does most of the stopping. The small shoe faces front.

 

Read about it here, and scroll down to see the schematic under "wheel Cylinder". Yeah, the small shoe is in front.
http://www.familycar.com/brakes.htm#Drum%20Brake

 

Yup small in the front!

 

Funny you ask... One time I tore apart a car and found both primarys on one side, and the secondaries on the other... The guy couldnt figure out why I was laughin so hard...


For the record.. its BRAKE not BREAK. Breaks are like coffee or smoke breaks. Brakes stop the car. Just one of them thar annoyin things to me, I get to thinking all technical and nomenclature is important to me.

 

Nomenclature! Thumpin are you in the military? Them civilians don't use that word do they?

 

I do....

 

I thought you were ex Air Force there Soaring

 

United States Army - 1966-69. I taught school overseas for 20 years, working for the Department of Defense Dependent's Schools. I have taught Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force kids.

 

Very cool! I figured you were a vet. And you are old too!