Rear Brake Drum - very tight

[alan-spannerhands]

Can anybody help! I've just renewed all the rear brake components on one side of my 1969 Minor ( I intend to do the other side soon). Trouble is that the hub is very tight to get on, and when I do persuade it on it's so tight that the hub is very difficult to turn. Should I just carry on and hope that the shoes rub themselves down over time or is there something else that might be the problem. The adjuster is turned to its minimum.
Thanks,
Alan.

[bmcecosse]

You will need to slacken off the handbrake cables - they are almost certainly pulling the brakes on. Slacken them both back - then fit the drums and tighten up the adjuster inside the drum until just very slightly rubbing - then tighten the cable adjustment again until the lever is how you like it. Some like just 2 clicks - I feel this is too tight - and use 4 clicks - although of course a good driver never lets it 'click' - hold the button in, pull lever up, release button to engage ratchet pawl -NO clicks (and thus no wear and tear) !! The cables should 'never' need adjusting again - just take up wear with the internal drum adjustment.

[alan-spannerhands]

Thanks bmcecosse for your quick reply. I disconnected the handbrake cable because I suspected that - but unfortunately still very tight. Could it be that the brake shoes that I bought might be slightly too big?

[Willie]

You may find that the sliding action which should be present on the rear brakes is too tight thus preventing the shoes from centralising themselves
as you try to refit the drum. with the drum off check that the wheel cylinder end is free to move up and down. If not then clean the sliding surfaces etc.
If all is ok and the drum will still not refit it may help if you very lightly chamfer the outer edges of the new linings. If the drum has any sort of wear then the initial refitting can be extremely tight but once the drum is right home there is more clearance as the linings are now in line with the worn area. Do not hit the drums with a hammer (cast iron=shatters easily)

[bmcecosse]

And be sure to clean out the drums properly - they sometimes accumulate a ridge of baked on rust/brake shoe dust. Good rub round with hefty abrasive paper helps.

[alan-spannerhands]

Thanks for all your replies. I've solved the problem. I've been a right numpty. I bought brake shoes for both back hubs and didn't realise that one shoe had a notch in it to accommodate the adjuster. As a result I ended up putting two similar shoes on one hub; i.e. neither had the notch resulting in the shoes diameter being too great (if that makes sense). Anyway thanks for your help.
Alan

[bmcecosse]

Well done -easy enough mistake to make, and to rectify! I actually though of that possibility - but decided not to post it!!

[cliff]

Some like just 2 clicks - I feel this is too tight - and use 4 clicks - although of course a good driver never lets it 'click' .

did you know that a lot of modern car manufacturs actually say in the handbook to NOT press the button in

what a crazy world we live in!

[bigginger]

I'm saying nowt after last time Any clue WHY they say that? Just more money for their garages when the ratchet needs replacing?