Wheel cylinder pistons

[PareosWC]

In attempting to get solid brakes on this WC52, I pulled the front drums to check for tolerance. When the brake pedal is pushed, only the rear pistons push out and move the rear shoes. All (4) wheel cylinders are new MWM products.

Should not both pistons be moving when the brake is engaged?

[motto]

Brakes are behaving as they should with the 1-1/4" pistons at the front and 1-3/8" at the rear. The reason for this is that the forward shoes are self energising, forced on due to drum rotation and the rear shoes are trailing therefore tending to be forced out of contact.
The difference in piston diameters is to try and even out the work that each shoe is doing.

David

[PareosWC]

Thanks, David.

[Don]

I would think that because the rear shoes have the larger area piston and more force, they probably move first. Once they come in contact with the drum, the fluid would start moving the forward shoes. Without the drums on, the rear pistons could keep moving until the springs can stop them.

[Vista52]

Brakes are behaving as they should with the 1-1/4" pistons at the front and 1-3/8" at the rear. The reason for this is that the forward shoes are self energising, forced on due to drum rotation and the rear shoes are trailing therefore tending to be forced out of contact.
The difference in piston diameters is to try and even out the work that each shoe is doing.

David

Excellent explanation David.