55.2-59 Napco brake shoe brand ID

[MJN]

Figured this is a long shot but was intrigued by the brand marking on these brake shoes from my 1956 Chevy 3/4ton Napco front axle. I tried googling the part number and brand letters (CWE or WEC?) but haven't had any luck. I'd just like to see if anyone knows the brand- I'll be getting these relined anyway so they'll still get used.

[MJN]

got it figured out- Wagner Electric Co. predecessor to Wagner Lockheed.

[mr48chev]

Cool. New shoes won't be hard to find but there is a certain factor of cool in knowing that you had those redone.

[MJN]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Cool. New shoes won't be hard to find but there is a certain factor of cool in knowing that you had those redone.

I haven't found new shoes yet and I know others with Napco axles have needed to have them relined as well. At least these have a part number on them but hasn't helped locate replacements.

[mr48chev]

The shoes should be out there but the issue is, that no one has listings for Napco conversions except maybe the specialty house that sells pieces for them. Then with them it is a bit of a secret item where they rebox shoes into their box with their parts number and put their price on them.

Then again the brake shoe outfits may have obsoleted that particular shoe due to low volume overall even though it probably fits a few other applicatons. Meaning that your plan to take the shoes to a brake shop and have them relined is what has to be done.

I've got an old ragged Napa Brake parts book from the 80's that has a number of pages showing drawings of shoes and the listings run by size = diameter and width.

The pages the parts house uses are like this.

[sack54]

The Napco 4x4 truck group moved to Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1531792713798709

[1project2many]

I was going to say those were Wagner shoes.

Nothing wrong with a reline if you have a source for linings and the tools or a local shop that can do it. Better still if you can contour grind the new linings to match the drum. Zero break-in time.

[mr48chev]

The big problem is that most of the brake and clutch shops have gone out of business in a lot of areas. When I lived and worked in Central Texas I would get brakeshoes and in a couple of cases have odd balls relined at Waco Brake and clutch in Waco. They were a long homerun it from the now Famous Silos in Waco then. they moved out of town to a smaller town in the past couple of years though.

[MJN]

Originally Posted by sack54

The Napco 4x4 truck group moved to Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1531792713798709

Yes, I'm aware and a member there- that is where I found out they were Wagner shoes.

Originally Posted by 1project2many

I was going to say those were Wagner shoes.

Nothing wrong with a reline if you have a source for linings and the tools or a local shop that can do it. Better still if you can contour grind the new linings to match the drum. Zero break-in time.

Originally Posted by mr48chev

The big problem is that most of the brake and clutch shops have gone out of business in a lot of areas. When I lived and worked in Central Texas I would get brakeshoes and in a couple of cases have odd balls relined at Waco Brake and clutch in Waco. They were a long homerun it from the now Famous Silos in Waco then. they moved out of town to a smaller town in the past couple of years though.

I dropped the shoes off on Saturday for relining at a local shop that does relining and other heavy truck repair work. Just waiting for them to call when they're done.

[dsraven]

did you also drop the drums off so they can arc the new lined shoes to fit the drums? they usually ask you for them if they have the machine for that.

[MJN]

Originally Posted by dsraven

did you also drop the drums off so they can arc the new lined shoes to fit the drums? they usually ask you for them if they have the machine for that.

They didn't request the drums and only asked for application specifics- I'm sure they have the ability to arc the shoes- its one of their main services.
http://www.mutualwheel.com/locate/moline.php

[MJN]

Ended up sending the shoes to Industrial Brake and Clutch Exchange in Seminole, FL for relining- awesome service, quick turnaround and no issues relining. https://industrialbrakeclutch.com/
I did find out more fun stuff on these brakes- they're Studebaker truck brakes but use GM drums. Took some time to find the correct return and adjuster springs. At least now I know the common application and know parts are somewhat available.

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by MJN

Ended up sending the shoes to Industrial Brake and Clutch Exchange in Seminole, FL for relining- awesome service, quick turnaround and no issues relining. https://industrialbrakeclutch.com/
I did find out more fun stuff on these brakes- they're Studebaker truck brakes but use GM drums. Took some time to find the correct return and adjuster springs. At least now I know the common application and know parts are somewhat available.

I’m working on a 57 NAPCO 3600/ 3/4 ton currently. Any additional info regarding the specific Studebaker application would be helpful, such as year and model. All I have run across so far is “Studebaker”. I will probably have to have my shoes refined, but it would be good to k ow a source for new wheel cylinders.

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

The big problem is that most of the brake and clutch shops have gone out of business in a lot of areas. When I lived and worked in Central Texas I would get brakeshoes and in a couple of cases have odd balls relined at Waco Brake and clutch in Waco. They were a long homerun it from the now Famous Silos in Waco then. they moved out of town to a smaller town in the past couple of years though.

Any details on where the shop relocated to would be appreciated. I’m not far from there’s.

[MJN]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

I’m working on a 57 NAPCO 3600/ 3/4 ton currently. Any additional info regarding the specific Studebaker application would be helpful, such as year and model. All I have run across so far is “Studebaker”. I will probably have to have my shoes refined, but it would be good to k ow a source for new wheel cylinders.

Wheel cylinders can be had from RockAuto, Napa, etc or either Studebaker International or Stephen Allen's Studebaker parts.
Stephen Allen's offers relining services for brake shoes as well and they were super helpful finding parts for my front brakes. I'm not finding the email I got from them but I sent them a picture of the brake shoe/hardware assembly and they responded with what model truck they were used on.
http://mystudebaker.com/brakes/stude...justing-parts/

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

Any details on where the shop relocated to would be appreciated. I’m not far from there’s.

For you, Brake and clutch supply
https://clutchshoptx.com/

That's a 77 mile run up I 35 for you but they are only open on week days.

They used to be Waco Brake and clutch in a little hole in the wall building a block from the now Magnolia Silos. When I lived in McGregor and worked in Waco I did a fair amount of business with them way back when.

They saved my Bacon a couple of times when I worked at the Firestone tire store in Down town Waco and had a couple of odd ball even in the 70's rigs that needed brakes.

That is who I would go to. I wouldn't bat and eye at throwing a set of rebuildable shoes in a box and sending them to them to have them done from here now as the go to local to me shop is no longer in business.