Brake Linings

After buying my 120SE/M the first thing on the to do list is get the brakes working fully again. The car has a newly rebuilt master cylinder in it. What I have to do is get new shoes for all 4 wheels. Is there a real difference if I just send out and buy the OEM shoes vs. sending the shoes out to have a custom liner made up for them? Is there a real stopping power difference? How do the prices compare? Thanks, - Aaron Pincus

Aaron, Custom reliners will use the same lining specified by the car manufacturer unless you specify differently. If you chose a different lining, be aware of the trade-offs between the stock lining and the one you chose. To make this decision, one should be erudite in the differences in lining materials and attendant applications. The SAE has published a number of papers on this subject and I suggest you become familiar with the physics involved before you change from stock. Prices from a custom reliner are generally higher due to the quantity difference. Good luck. - Goerge Badger

Lining kits are available that come with linings and rivets. Basically their were two versions depending on the the number of rivet holes. Best Regards, - Hal Rogers, H.D. Rogers & Sons

Aaron Pincus, watch it when you get your shoes redone with new brake liners. Why? The shoes look very standard old fashioned. So when someone not knowing the XK 120 gets the shoes, and takes the ol' liners off, It is much likely that he is gonna measure the new liners wrong, that means that he will rivet too long liners to the brake shoes. That will automatically make your new brakes cease after some miles. Do not say, that does not happen. I have seen it. On the XK 120 the liners should run from one end of the shoe and end approx. 2 1/2" from the other end. Get it right. You can't improve the braking by adding too long liners, as some might have thought in the past. - Arno Wahl

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