Rear brake snail cam adjusters

Post by **pmdavies** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:36 am

Hi everyone

Has anyone encountered this problem?: On re-assembling the rear brakes, the highest part of the adjuster cam fouls the end of the brake shoe. This happens on both sides and once turned past the end of the shoe, won't back off fully because it hits the end of the curved part of the shoe that the friction material is bonded to. Can't see where I've gone wrong unless someone has previously fitted the wrong adjusters. I'm tempted to grind two tiny slots in the end of the shoe. Anyone got any ideas??

Thanks, Pete

Post by **Orkney** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:33 am

Shouldnt do that ! shoes right way round? Got a pic?

Post by **Willie** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:29 am

I am sure I have seen a post from RAY about this problem? For your info there are only two types of snail cams. The front brake adjusters on the 8" fronts have a diameter across the adjuster screwdriver slot of
10mm. The earlier type have a diameter of 7.5mm. I don't know if the
1098 type could be fitted to the rears but you could have a quick measure. You say 'on reassembling the rear brakes'. Which parts are new? That should be a clue.

Post by **alainmoran** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:21 am

Yes, I have had this problem, however if you get a set of mole-grips around your screwdriver you can kick it round that extra notch and the height of the cam then gives the clearance to keep on adjusting.

Also this only happened to me on the one side, since the cams dont seem to be handed at all its only the one way around that it catches (on the backing plate to the pad)

Post by **pmdavies** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:36 pm

Just to clarify with more detail:

Car is '67 Saloon. The only new parts are the shoes. Don't know if this problem existed before as car is new to me. From memory, the adjusters on the rear are smaller than the ones fitted to the front. The shoes can't be the wrong way round as there's only one semi-circular recess on one shoe to fit the adjuster to. I'm beginning to think maybe it's the wrong adjusters or poor spec shoes as it's only the position of the semi-circular cut out in the shoe and the dimentions of the adjuster that can affect the distance between the cam end the end of the shoe; the position of any other parts wouldn't make any difference. I don't know if it's going to be a problem until I come to adjust them (not at that stage yet!)

Pete

Post by **alainmoran** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:20 pm

My same problem occurred on a '69 and with two different sets of shoes ... you could probably grind a bit off the end of the pad-area backing plate if you dont fancy forcing it around!

Post by **Willie** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 5:56 pm

If the only new parts are the brake shoes then try putting the old ones back to see if the problem disappears, if so then file off the difference in the shoes. Obviously your car should have the thicker type snails on the front and t he normal thinner type on the rear.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:00 pm

Just file a little bit off the adjuster until it can rotate properly.

Post by **alainmoran** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:05 am

Its actually the barbs on the adjuster which catch (on mine), filing them off would remove an adjustment towards the tail-end of the shoe's life.

Post by **ColinChandler** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:28 pm

Hello and yes I had the same problem on the last set of shoes I fitted. I took the new ones back off and compared them to the old shoes and found that the 2 pieces of the shoe werent welded together in quite the right orientation. ie, the outer plate bit with the brake lining on is just that little bit too far round so the edge fouls the adjuster. Everyone will probably hold their hands up in horror but I just cut/filed/chamfered a bit off the edge of the shoe until it cleared. Not much has to come off or at least, not on the shoes I had. If you assemble it all together without the drum on, you can see where it catches and what needs to come off. Make sure its all central though.
Cheers, Colin.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:45 pm

The last few barbs don't matter - file em off! Shoes that badly worn should be thrown away - new shoes are dead cheap!

Post by **alainmoran** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 2:46 pm

It catches about a third to half way round the snail ... right where you would be using the barbs for adjusting for the last reasonable amount of adjustment.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:45 pm

Something strange then - groove the shoes if you must!

Post by **MoggyTech** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:55 pm

Mmmm, groovy shoes, then you can go Morris Dancing