Beehive Springs

[svenedin]

I know this has been covered before and I have looked at the previous threads. Having read the posts I still don't know how to fit these. I cannot find a parts diagram or photograph anywhere that shows how to fit them. I have them ready to go on but I have no guide as to how they fit because they were not present on my brake shoes. I know a lot of people leave them out but I want to put them on and I can't.

I can see a eyelet for each spring on the backplate and I am assuming that the hook at the widest part of the spring engages with this eyelet. I can get these attached without difficulty. The problem is I don't know how the spring attaches to the shoe. There is a hole in the middle of the shoe, in the right place, but how does the spring engage? I can't seem to make the spring attach to the shoe.

[svenedin]

No sooner had I posted my thread and I found a picture of the beehive installed on an MG. Doh, it goes on top of the shoe and the hook bit passes through the hole and onto to the eyelet behind. A picture tells a thousand words. I'm going to take a picture (if) I get mine installed....

[aupickup]

we dont use them

[simmitc]

Plenty do use them. No point in igniting the argument, just say it's personal choice whether to have them or not.

[svenedin]

I never even knew of their existence when my car was in daily use and they were not fitted. I've put the brakes back together and decided to leave them off. I used needle nosed pliers but peering in it took so much force to compress the spring enough to get the hook far enough back to engage on the eyelet that I just didn't have enough strength in my hands.

[aupickup]

you can buy a special tool looks like a screwdriver with a slot in it

[svenedin]

you can buy a special tool looks like a screwdriver with a slot in it

Interesting, I made a tool like that for mending particular fountain pens. It might work....

[bmcecosse]

I have to use them on the rear brakes of my TR7, or the shoes fall over .... but I never use them on Minors...

[simmitc]

Easy fit tool is a pair of long nosed pliers with a washer over the jaws. Right sized jaws and washer means that the washer jams part way up the open jaws and then applies force to compress the spring, whilst the jaws grip the tail of the spring and allow you to twist it into place. Often easiest to lie down in order to get the best angle for insertion (no extraneous comments required).

[bmcecosse]

[MarkyB]

They are a pain to fit and do nothing useful, in fact I suspect they may encourage the brake cylinders to stick by restricting brake shoe movement.
Feel free to fit them if you like.

[les]

we dont use them

Who's WE? As above, they are awkward to fit, that's why some people don't fit them, and instead of saying ''I can't do it'' just say, they're not needed! This one often crops up.

[bmcecosse]

The Queen doesn't use them.... perhaps... I suggest that very few Minor owners bother to use them. I certainly don't!

[mike.perry]

I have plenty of springs if anyone is desperate to fit them. Do they check them for concours judging?