Can anyone tell me if Fusicks have sent me the wrong size rear brake shoes, I started fitting them and realized something was up when the pins weren't long enough to go through and attach the hold down springs to.
Once I had compared them with the old set I could see why, do I have undersized rear drums? or are the rear drums meant to be smaller than the front?

I've sent a couple of emails to Fusicks but no reply.

 

Its wrong, you won't get the drum back on. Also note the old ones are not near worn out.

 

Yes, I was that the shoes had plenty of meat still on them, so I was able to just refit with the new hardware.
I'm a little pissed that Fusicks wont answer my emails though, as soon as I send a query about a new order they're on the ball, but not to interested to help resolve this issue.

 

Nigel, the fronts are 11" x 2 & 1/2" (Bendix RS264 or equalivant) ,the rears are 11" x2" (Bendix 228 or equalivant). The 2" shoes can be installed on the front ,but the 2 & 1/2" can't be put on the back. Hopefully you have (as Coldwar suggested) put the 2 in. Rear shoes on the front,because you can switch them easier than having to return them and sit for more to be mailed! Larry

 

Coldwar & Larry, I remember when I started fitting the fronts there was no description on the invoice to help me find front or rear so I was comparing the old and new side by side looking at the drilled holes for the springs, I didn't think or realize that the rears would be different in width.
I've just been outside and took a pic of the old front shoes and they are the same in width as the new set but the holes for the springs don't match....that was why I didn't fit these on the front, when it stops raining Ill pull the front drum and check

 

In your second pic, you have the opposite shoes shown. If you look at the length in brake shoe material you'll notice that each pair of shoes has a long and a short side.

 

OK, I'm going to brave the wind and rain and take the drum off the front to see if I put a narrower set on the front...back in a mo

 

Coldwar, Larry & Eric....Your dealing with a retard here me thinks, as you suggested, I put the new rears on the front

PS and Fusicks have replied today as well, suggesting I may have an import or something...I need to check my facts before jumping to conclusions.

 

Weeeeeell, your not the first and most likely won't be the last. Make sure you have the shoe placement for each wheel correct also. The shoe towards the front of the car on each wheel is the primary (shorter lining material).

 

The only ones who don't make a mistakes once in a while are the ones who do nothing.You encourage others by tackling the work yourself, and staying with it until it works good. Best of luck ,Larry

 

Sadly, Nigel, the help at these nitwit mailorder places aren't fit to flip burgers at McDonald's (you want fries with those brake shoes?)...














.
The Fronts are 11" x 2 1/2" -- the old number 160 (the 264 is a Ford shoe that works -- but NOT correct...
.
and the Rears are 11" x 2" -- the old number 228...
.
.
And REALLY you should NOT put 11" x 2" in the Front -- because the Front
requires more braking (it is NOT 50% - 50%, because of the weight of the motor --which is, of course, in the Front) --and you are compromising your
braking -- more surface area is required....
.
Of course, as we discussed, you had ordered from fu**ups before you
met me -- how stupid are they? -- I know '49 - '64 Olds brake part # s in my sleep!!!!!
That's like going into a tea and crumpets shop -- and them not knowing how to make tea!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers........... Craig..........

 

[QUOTE=mobileparts;900048]Sadly, Nigel, the help at these nitwit mailorder places aren't fit to flip burgers at McDonald's (you want fries with those brake shoes?)...

WOW!!!! You're going to get some feedback on that comment...

 

You won't build business for yourself this way. Fusick created the aftermarket for Oldsmobile restoration parts, when 50's Oldsmobile cars were still almost just old used cars. If he did nothing more then reproduce impossible to re-plate parts for cars loaded with expensive plating work, he deserves hall of fame recognition for that alone. I found him to be a hell of a nice guy in person, too. All you have done is made certain some readers will never buy YOUR parts.

 

Thanks once again guys for all the help and advice, i'd surely be up the creek without ya.

Edit; I have to take responsibility for starting this with my earlier rant about Fusicks not answering the couple of emails I sent them....(which they have now done today), my query to them suggesting they'd sent the wrong rear shoes would have been hard for them to resolve anyway as im sure they wouldn't have expected me to have fitted the shoes on the wrong wheels....I have replied to Fusicks informing them that they sent the correct shoes and the issue was of my own making.

 

When you go into a coffee shop , diner, or deli and you order a cup of
Black Coffee -- and you can tell what Black Coffee is as soon as you look
at it -- and it has cream, or milk, or half - and - half in it, DO YOU DRINK
IT? Or do you have to return it , get the right one, and think to yourself,
"HOW STUPID IS THIS IDIOT -- they can't even make a cup of black
coffee................."


I am very sorry if you are offended by the fact that I call a spade a spade.


Nigel is in England, Great Britain, the United Kingdom, that is "across the
pond" and you would think that someone would be in charge of quality
control to NOT SEND WRONG PARTS to England.


I have known Mike from Fusick for many years -- and he has been to my
house -- 250 miles away....
He is very, very behind the scenes now -- and doesn't have the caliper
of workers that is required to run an efficient and mistake-free operation.


But you would think EXTRA CARE would be taken for an overseas order.
I KNOW FOR A FACT that 100.00% of my overseas orders have always been PERFECT -- and 99.98% of my U.S.A. orders are PERFECT.


Is that a problem..... If any one individual Doesn't want to utilize my services --- I am not going to shed a tear -- I AM VERY CONTENT to deal
with all of the SMART people on the planet... (NIGEL DEFINITELY
QUALIFIES -- and I HATE to see a car he loves compromised.)


If anyone has an issue with my calling a spade a spade -- well, there are
plenty of idiots in this world to have to deal with .... GOOD LUCK....