Brake drum woes

Final few bits of my Campaign recto -  refitted new pads, new cylinder and new spring kit on the rear brakes with a new drum too.

Now drum is extremely tight to the point it won't go on - even with a light tapping from rubber mallet.


Thought it was all self adjusting - checked the set up - all seems ok 🤔

Cars having to spend first night outside 😄

You have the shoes on maximum adjustment there, push the wedge with the spring upward and sq ueeze the shoes together..
it's better to make a manual adjustment on them when all built up, you'll need a small pointed shaft, ( small Phillips screwdriver works ) and go in through a wheel stud hole, line up the open hole with the hole the spring is in, have someone press the brake and flick the wedge down, you may need a torch to locate the adjuster. Do both sides like this and your rear brakes should be pretty well adjusted and balanced

Thanks for that - I'll have a look tomorrow 

Thought something amiss ☺️

Cheers 

As above unadjust the adjuster to get the drum on and then use a bradawl type tool to pull the adjuster down.

Have the handbrake cables wound off in the cabin and then adjust those after adjusting the brakes.

Its amazing how much slack it can take up in the sytem, I'm sure half the complaints about MK1 brakes are due to the rear drums taking half the pedal travel before they  start doing anything.

Adjusted the brake shoes as suggested 

The drum now fits fine - thanks for your help

Your adjuster is right at the bottom so that’s why you can’t get the drums on.
Make sure you have the adjuster on the right way with the little tab facing the back plate.

I think you also need to twist around the end of the brake cylinder facing the front of the car so the little tab keeps the shoe in place, if you look at the other end of the cylinder you can see the tab.

Picture of where the adjuster should be, notice the adjuster spring is fully out.







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Thanks Mark1gls

I've done just that and it's worked - drum fitted ok

Hadn't realised the adjuster was wrong setting 

Cheers 

Glad you managed to work it out. They are a pain to fit and lots of levering and pulling to get the springs on.  

mark1gls said

Glad you managed to work it out. They are a pain to fit and lots of levering and pulling to get the springs on.  

You can get fancy pliers to help with that, but where's the fun in that eh! First job I ever did on a car was replace rear drums. Made a right mess of it and my old man had to sort it all out. Still I learnt some lessons and 2 years later was replacing clutches and head gaskets.

To be honest, this cheap tool is worth every penny while doing brake shoes

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silverline-Car-Exhaust-SPRING-HOOK-Puller-Removal-Installation-Tool-Brake-416746-/143741846267?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m2548.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

I assemble the shoes, brackets and springs off the car so they aren't under so much tension and do-able. Then using a big screw driver lever the shoes onto the cylinder and bottom post. The tricky bit is the hand brake cable, unwinding it all the off gives just enough slack for you to be able to pull on it to the lever on the shoe.

I've just renewed on my GTI 20 years after I restored it it (leaking cylinders)

If I was doing it more often I'd def get one of those tools

jakethepeg007 said

To be honest, this cheap tool is worth every penny while doing brake shoes

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silverline-Car-Exhaust-SPRING-HOOK-Puller-Removal-Installation-Tool-Brake-416746-/143741846267?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m2548.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Well I have probably more experience with springy thing than most.  I used to repair 1886 -1934 Adding machines and cash registers, I have a whole assortment of spring pulls and spring pushers, but usually on my cars, I opt for  pair of Vice-Grip pliers and a large screw driver… Never been an issue.

I too assemble on a table.





I usually take a before pic so I get it back together correctly.



So my knowledge wont be lost.