Twin front brake shoe recommendations

Bob Z. · Oct 25, 2016

What are recommended suppliers for front brake shoes for the 1971 TLS brake?

I have tried all the tricks with sandpaper glued to the hub and link rod adjustments but the shoes need replacing with thicker linings. Really horrible braking as is.

Searching the subject reveals that some replacement parts have too thin of linings from new. And bonded versus riveted linings.

MikeG · Oct 25, 2016

Search here for a poster named Madass. Been several threads here concerning this subject and he seems to be the only one with the proper solution.

Onder · Oct 25, 2016

The stock shoes are actually pretty thin. After arcing them in they are even thinner.
Madass's offering may be worth looking into.

L.A.B. · Oct 25, 2016

Bob Z. said:
Searching the subject reveals that some replacement parts have too thin of linings from new. And bonded versus riveted linings.

We've had good reports about the RGM MZ Gold shoes.
http://www.rgmnorton.co.uk/buy/rgm-fron ... n_2441.htm

The problem with the too-thin linings could be due to the factory supplying the front brake shoes and slippers separately (and rears separately from early '73) so the slippers probably get removed along with the old brake shoes.

https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-de ... oe-slipper

dave M · Oct 25, 2016

I used the RGM shoes, which I think they have made themselves, they were 100 percent better than the original linings that I tried at first, the originals were used but had plenty of meat on them and i arced them in by hand and they showed a good contact patch after a couple of hundred miles, but the RGM ones were a revelation.

pantah_good · Oct 25, 2016

You also might consider calling Michael at Vintage Brake about him arcing new linings or new shoes on your backing plate assembly. See the "What We Do" paragraph in the link page.
http://www.vintagebrake.com/info.htm

jimbo · Oct 25, 2016

Bob Z. said:
What are recommended suppliers for front brake shoes for the 1971 TLS brake?

I have tried all the tricks with sandpaper glued to the hub and link rod adjustments but the shoes need replacing with thicker linings. Really horrible braking as is.

Searching the subject reveals that some replacement parts have too thin of linings from new. And bonded versus riveted linings.

just bought a set from Phil at Fair Spares, they seem OK .

Bob Z. · Oct 25, 2016

I measured the diameter of my assembled front brake with worn shoes at 199mm.
New shoes (Ferodo) are listed at 200mm.
The madass (eBay bikepender1) lists his special construction as true 8-inch 203mm.

I can see the issue of modern new shoes not able to perform as the original shoes.

But I like the challenge of getting an acceptable brake from the bike. My other Nortons have discs so I want to try.
My Atlas with TLS conversion was not too bad.

cjandme · Oct 25, 2016

Bob Z. said:
What are recommended suppliers for front brake shoes for the 1971 TLS brake?

I have tried all the tricks with sandpaper glued to the hub and link rod adjustments but the shoes need replacing with thicker linings. Really horrible braking as is.

Searching the subject reveals that some replacement parts have too thin of linings from new. And bonded versus riveted linings.

I thought I might add that My brother had a '70 "S" model back in the day and it had an inline electrical brake light switch built into the front brake cable. Needless to say it is a "weak link" in the brake cable, and when he replaced it with an aftermarket cable it was much better--So, not sure if your cable has the electrical switch in it, but if it does you might want to swap it outta there.

acotrel · Oct 25, 2016

I think there is a problem with all brake linings these days. Most are now non-asbestos. I've managed to find four asbestos-based disc pads for my Seeley, however prior to that I had little joy. In the old days when drum brakes were the norm, there was a good variety of linings available. Perhaps you might be able to find some new old stock ?

gripper · Oct 25, 2016

+1 on the need to get rid of the brake light switch in the front cable and make sure you have the correct lever with 7/8" from fulcrum to nipple centre. Many are 1"

gjr · Oct 25, 2016

I have the RGM high friction linings on my '70 Commando and I like them a lot. Much better than old stock linings.

Greg

gortnipper · Oct 29, 2016

gjr said:
I have the RGM high friction linings on my '70 Commando and I like them a lot. Much better than old stock linings.

Greg

+4. Go for Gold.

baldy · Oct 29, 2016

Highly recommend the AN drum brake stiffener kit. Much better feel and stopping.

gtsun · Oct 30, 2016

I have a friend who makes his own cables. Uses that phon I have a friend who makes his own cables. Uses A much heavier gauge wire and Teflon lined housings. He says it's a major improvement and I've been meaning to have him make me one for my little BSA with the drum brakes but haven't done it yet. I haven't bought stock brake cables for a drum break commando in a long long time but the throttle cables I bought recently from a reputable seller that I have nothing but respect for seem cheap and low quality to me. Don't mean to hijack the thread but do new brake cables stretch a lot when new and need to be "broken in" and readjusted several times?

DogT · Nov 3, 2016

I got the Commando Specalaties shoes, when I got mine they were the RGM shoes, but if you have to get them from RGM do it. The setup is the other 7/8ths of the job. I didn't opt for the stiffening plate, and don't feel that I need it the way I ride anyhow. They will also seem thin if you don't have the slipper on the cam. As I remember I had to arc them with the slippers off and then put them on when I was done. It was a 90% improvement over the originals. Or did I get these? http://commandospecialties.com/norton-f ... shoes.html anyhow, they worked.

jimbo · Nov 4, 2016

jimbo said:
Bob Z. said:

What are recommended suppliers for front brake shoes for the 1971 TLS brake?

I have tried all the tricks with sandpaper glued to the hub and link rod adjustments but the shoes need replacing with thicker linings. Really horrible braking as is.

Searching the subject reveals that some replacement parts have too thin of linings from new. And bonded versus riveted linings.

Click to expand...

just bought a set from Phil at Fair Spares, they seem OK .

I got a chance to run the set from Phil at Fair Spares on the Enfield, worked pretty good, locked up the front wheel, :shock: , But they still need to bed in I think, then I can get the adjustment tighter and the feel better, note I run a helper spring on the cable to help release the brake as soon as possible because of drag from the shoe pivots, cable , and the stiffener plate . IMHO I do not think a cable that is well made ( heavy inner and outer)is effected by having a switch built into it.

Twin front brake shoe recommendations

Bob Z.

MikeG

Mikeg

Onder

L.A.B.

Moderator

dave M

pantah_good

jimbo

Bob Z.

cjandme

acotrel

gripper

gjr

gortnipper

baldy

gtsun

DogT

jimbo

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