M38 Brake shoes

[bubbles86]

Hi, Just wondering if anyone can tell me where i can find NOS brake shoes for my M38, I want the asbestos and matalic material in them, They seem to work much better than the new ones they have available today

[RonD2]

Hi Bubbles,
Welcome to the forum!

Doesn't mean much, but I don't recall ever seeing NOS asbestos brake shoes advertised anywhere.
If anybody has them, or knows where to find them, it would probably be one of our venerable military jeep parts vendors: Midwest Military (MWM), Brent Mullins Jeep Parts (BMJP), Army Jeep Parts (AJP), or a couple of the other vendors dedicated to military jeep parts.
Give them a phone call.

I'm curious why you think asbestos shoes "seem to work better" compared to new modern material shoes?
Selling anything with asbestos these days might be asking for trouble?

Can you share some experience comparing the difference?
Less "brake fade" when hot?

Where are you?
Share us some photos of your M38!

Good luck!

[dpcd67]

I've used plenty of original shoes, and new ones; there is no difference, except that you won't get lung cancer from the new ones.
I would forget your search and focus on other things. Reading your TMs and SNL.

[andyh1956]

I had mine relined at a clutch & brake shop in Jackson. Stops great as long as there is fluid in the system.

[ocwd]

Before I took my Jeep apart, it had modern replacements and stopped just fine.

My current axles are either NOS or government rebuild right out of the crate. They have older brake shoes that work just fine too.

I can say that the older brakes generate a ton of brake dust when compared to the new shoes. I pulled the drums off after a couple hundred miles and there was more dust than I anticipated. Not sure if that means anything, just an observation.

Dave

[wesk]

The older asbestos type shoes do create more residue and over the long term professional exposure can be a health issue but there is no real measurable difference in performance between old asbestos & new NON-Metalic shoes. New metalic shoes will show a noticebale increase in performance but then the drums will wear much quicker.