I'm looking for some good brake shoes (rear) and hardware. At the beginning of summer my rear wheel cylinders started leaking so I replaced everything, cylinders, drums, shoes and hardware. Converted to front discs last year.

I buy my parts from a smaller local store (not a chain) and in the past he always carried good parts, not anymore, now it's the same crap as O'Reillys etc...

The shoes, which they said were the only ones they could get were all the same, no larger and smaller shoes, all were the smaller ones. The drums were out of round and have to be turned and all the hardware is Chinese junk. The only decent parts were the cylinders which I had to get else where.

So I'm finally ready to re-do this mess after I find a source of good parts.

Also since this is about brakes, has anyone added self adjusting hardware to a car that didn't come with self adjusters? I'd like to find the needed hardware to do that also.

Thanks.

musclecarbrakes.com

Has anyone actually used them ??? I've seen them and often wondered if they work as advertised ?

From a brand name perspective I've always had good luck with stuff like: Raybestos, Bendix, Wagner, Brembo. We are talking rotors, brake pads for our Mopars as well as daily drivers.

When replacing everything on my '89 AHB, including the rear finned 11" drums, I got screwed on the Raybestos drums! They were junk. I finally just bought a set of NOS Mopar off ebay. Much more expensive but worth it. It baffled me for awhile. Everytime I tightened down the lug nuts on the Raybestos drummed wheels the brakes feel locked. I would adjust the shoes properly, put wheel on, tighten lugs, and then the wheel would be locked. Obviously not cast properly or something. And both rear drums were this way right out of the box.

I have always used Raybestos. I did a brake job about 2 years and ordered new drums from Raybestos. I took them to a machine shop just to make sure they were true. He said they were off and had to turn them. I think all name quality stuff are made in the same foundry which is in China. I even talked to the Raybestos tech and he even said they were made in China.

It's a lesson learned for sure. I say, if it's not drastically more to buy NOS, buy NOS and don't give your money to the China built crap sellers. If you're going to have to have them turned right out of the box anyway, maybe the difference won't be too bad. To me it was worth it partially to protest the crap.

Thanks for the input, I'm using the drums I have. It's the shoes and hardware I'm looking for now, specifically the self adjusting hardware.

Looking on Youtube I see Ford 11" brakes are identical to what I have except mine didn't have the self adjusting hardware. In fact the shoes and hardware I bought were Ford parts according to the parts store. plus the fact that it only came with the leading shoes and not the trailing shoes.

Well, it is real hard to help with parts when you refrain from telling us the application.

I purchased everything for the Straight Axle in my 65 thru Rock Auto...

They had every individual part I needed...Can't swear to any of its quality as I haven't installed any of it yet...

Wouldn't be surprised if all the hardware is the same, branded under different names. I don't think you'll have to worry about the hardware.

There is a quality difference between riveted and bonded shoes though if I'm not mistaken. One was considered HD/Police use, but I just can't remember which now. I believe bonded was considered cheaper route, riveting better and HD/Police use.

Pretty much most all shoes are relined by a few companys.The lining is what matters.Typically rivited shoes are the best.Rock Auto should have ii all.I usually get mine at Advance as my kids a manager there.But I do get some from Rock Auto as they can be cheaper.Bought ceramic pads and rotors for the Journey from them.Good quality and no problesm in 2 years so far.Have bougn other stuff also.We used store brands at the shop a lot.Most was name brands just reboxed for store brand.Rocky