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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Mechanical Brake Floaters

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Discussion Topic: Mechanical Brake Floaters

pauls36fordor

08-20-2019 @ 8:09 AM

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What are they pros and cons (if any) to installing mechanical brake floaters? Is there any difference between floaters and energizers? Mac's Auto calls them energizers but they look the same to me. Last question, can you install them on just the front brakes, or should they be on all four wheels? I've heard conflicting opinions on that. I want to keep my 36 original so i do not want to install hydraulics. But i would like better braking especially on the freeway. Thanks.

35topdown

10-09-2019 @ 6:07 PM

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My 35 has floaters on all 4. My dad put them on it 25 years ago. I'm having trouble now with one wheel locking up before the others after new brake shoes installed and find that the adjustment is rather touchy. I'm going to rearc the locking up wheel to give it a little more clearance on the ends of the shoes. Other than that, I think they work well.

ford38v8

10-09-2019 @ 10:44 PM

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The Energizers pictured on Macs website are listed as discontinued, for what reason I haven't a clue, but yes, they are what is known as Floaters, and are very different than the original Ford Energizers. These Floaters convert the braking system from Hotchkiss to the superior Bendix system, which Ford used beginning in 1949. They should be installed on all 4 wheels for best results. The original brake shoe springs can be used, but I replaced my bottom springs with the 1939 single bottom springs and am very happy with the amazingly good results, both in stopping power, and with the ease of adjusting.

Alan

therunwaybehind

10-10-2019 @ 9:03 AM

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Hotchkiss? That takes me to Gatling type guns on ships and a French jeep as well as final dive gears. I thought V8 Fords had Wagner-Lockheed? https://forums.aaca.org/topic/77546-early-automobile-brakes-1918-to-1942/

ford38v8

10-10-2019 @ 9:10 AM

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Your'e right. Lockheed it is, I don't know what I was thinking!

Alan

trjford8

10-11-2019 @ 7:34 AM

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Check with Flathead Ted over on the Fordbarn website (www.fordbarn.com). He has the floaters and I believe he makes them.

kubes40

10-12-2019 @ 6:54 AM

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I'd installed a set of Flathead ted's on a 34 coupe just a few years ago. HUGE difference! Well worth the cost and effort.
Keep in mind the stock Ford brakes were restored to perfection from one end to the other. Even so, Ted's kit was a most welcome improvement.

Mike "Kube" Kubarth

10-12-2019 @ 1:00 PM

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I found that these 'floaters' from MAC's worked much better on my '34 than the floaters from Flathead Ted's > https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mercury_early/front-brake-operating-wedge-stud-set-with-equalizer-ford.html

And, the price is right!....

OOPS! I just now realized that the above floaters I refer to are not applicable to Paul's '36....

This message was edited by MG on 10-12-19 @ 1:26 PM

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