Re: [Chrysler300] Center Plane Brakes

["George Riehl" <longrams@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Wow! This brings back a memory! Some years ago, when Chrysler sent me a whole bunch of info on the 300s, there was a Service Bulletin about "squeaking brakes" concerning the "center plane system".  When all else failed to solve the problem, it was suggested that the mechanic take a hacksaw and install two blades. Then make a somewhat small cut (approx. 1/16" deep) from the toe to the heel of the lining diagnally  top left to bottom right. 
Years ago, I did have this problem on my F. The "springs" were on the drums but still "squeeked".  I pulled off the shoes and installed two blades on the hacksaw and made the cuts. Put everything back togeather, never a sound from then on. Why did it work? Your guess is as good as mine. 
George Riehl


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bob Merritt 
  To: Chrysler300 list 
  Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 1:57 PM
  Subject: [Chrysler300] Center Plane Brakes


  This message was on another list but might be of interest. 

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Burton Bouwkamp" 

  Subject: [Imperial-Club] CENTERPLANE BRAKES

  From 1954 to 1960 I was a product engineer (called "resident engineer") at 
  the Chrysler Jefferson Plant. During that time Chrysler came out with 
  centerplane brakes. It was a great concept on paper - the shoe web floated 
  between two aligning plates and the friction material aligned itself with 
  the drum on application. I think the merchandizing name was "Total Contact 
  Brakes".

  Center plane brakes worked fine as brakes - but they were noisy! Brake 
  squeak!!! We tried lots of different linings but it didn't help. 
  (Although, it did give us an answer for top management. When they asked 
  why the brakes squeaked on their personal car we answered, "you don't have 
  the latest lining"). Finally - in desperation - we added raised plateaus 
  to the backing plate to touch the side of the brake shoe. The idea was for 
  the shoe/backing plate contact to work like putting your finger on the 
  side of a vibrating tuning fork. The problem was that in production the 
  dimensional variations in the brake were so great that on some cars this 
  fix worked as intended and sometimes it resulted in dimensional 
  interference that caused shoe returnability problems and/or shoes that 
  would not align themselves with the brake drum unless something 
  deflected - obviously compromising the "total contact" concept.

  We fought this problem for years - and finally gave up trying to make the 
  centerplane brake concept work. We decided to join the rest of the 
  industry in using the "Lockheed" brake design.

  Burt Bouwkamp

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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