Would the collective wisdom of this sight recommend double puck brakes with 8.50 x 6 shoes on a 170 ?

I put them on a super Stinson and felt more brake would better. It was adequate. I changed to Cleveland master cylinders away from the Goodyears and that seemed slightly better. I am not sure that helps.

Mapleflt wrote:Would the collective wisdom of this sight recommend double puck brakes with 8.50 x 6 shoes on a 170 ?

No. Single-puck brakes worked fine for me with 8.50's. I never wanted more brake until I went to Goodyear Blimps, which the single-pucks couldn't handle worth a darn.

Single pick Cleveland brakes were more than enough for my cessna 140 FWIW

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I have added them to every project I have been involved with.

The C180 I did my BFR in was equipped with 8.50s and single puck brakes. They were fine. Had enough power to lift the tail during max performance landings.

Good intel, thanks gang

As usual in discussions like this, the best answer is: "It depends". In Cessnas with sporty winds, I use a tap on the brakes to help with directional management. This is certainly true of 180/185, but if it gets busy enough, also in a 170.

In that case (granted doesn't happen much, but) I really like BRAKES, as opposed to brakes. I want to be able to jab that pedal with a very quick hard jab, and get the result I need. Jabbing a single puck brake really doesn't do much, you kinda have to LEAN on those to get braking.

So, I prefer double pucks on pretty much any taildragger.

The other point, of course is bigger tires. With 8.50s, single pucks can work fine. But, re-read the above......it depends.

MTV

I have 8.50 s and single pucks. They work fine but only just. I occasionally stamp on them and want more. When I have new pads that are not bedded in they are not enough.

I’m in the process of going to double pucks.

I think that the Kenmore stc for 850's pm a C180 require double puck.

The first modification I did to my current airplane was to replace the three bolt wheels and single puck brakes with ABW six bolt wheels and double puck brakes.

MTV

mtv wrote:The first modification I did to my current airplane was to replace the three bolt wheels and single puck brakes with ABW six bolt wheels and double puck brakes.

MTV

What is the advantage of the 6 bolt wheels?

I've ran single pucks on many planes up to 29" tires. They work just fine for how I fly. Although, at 29" they diminish greatly. at 26 and below I haven't felt like I wanted more. I would advise put the tires on and see how the brakes work for you. If you need more, go bigger.

Call me a minimalist, but I don't buy into the "bigger is better" thought process. Bigger costs me money and useful load.... two things I don't like giving up!

All agreed, given my usage and the cases presented I'm going with a refresh single puck setup. Thank you to all for your thoughts, much appreciated. Cheers

daedaluscan wrote:

mtv wrote:The first modification I did to my current airplane was to replace the three bolt wheels and single puck brakes with ABW six bolt wheels and double puck brakes.

MTV

What is the advantage of the 6 bolt wheels?

The six bolt wheels are held together by six bolts......

Actually, as Airframes points out, three bolt wheels work fine, as long as you disassemble them periodically and re-torque the bolts regularly.

The six bolt wheels are stronger, and less prone to fretting of the wheel halves.

MTV

I just bought 3 bolt wheels and the double pucks from Alaska Airframes, and an STC from Atlee Dodge through them. Simple install and really nicely made gear. I love the feeling of having lots of power to spare. I am sure that if I had tuned up my single pucks then they would have performed a little better, but I am not sorry to have done this.

Its official I'm VERY jealous, ah man

I am really cheap, and have hesitated doing this. My calipers were old and porous, I had to keep changing pads as they leaked if the pistons got out too far. The pins were worn in the backing plates and the pads wore unevenly. Anyone who drives a 170 knows that good brakes can be really handy occasionally.

I was looking at secondhand calipers, but after a rebuild and new pads, and new discs and wheel bearings I finally realised that the ABI kits were actually a smoking deal for all new, nice, clean and shiny stuff.

I also got talked into helping friends finish a hangar over the last few weeks so I figured putting those $$ into the plane was a good plan.

daedaluscan wrote:…. I had to keep changing pads as they leaked if the pistons got out too far. …..

I've had that leaking caliper issue before and it turned out to be that the rotors were worn beyond minimum thickness.
That said, buying the all-new W&B kit was a good way to go--
as you said, all new, nice, clean, and shiny- and double pucks to boot.

daedaluscan wrote:I just bought 3 bolt wheels and the double pucks from Alaska Airframes, and an STC from Atlee Dodge through them. Simple install and really nicely made gear. I love the feeling of having lots of power to spare. I am sure that if I had tuned up my single pucks then they would have performed a little better, but I am not sorry to have done this.

Awesome! [emoji1360]