MM Brake issues

[Minor49]

My 1949 MM, has recently been having brake issues, pedal is very long, adjustment on the rear is at its maximum, albeit that the brake shoes are new, any ideas please?

[Peted7202]

More info needed please.

What do you mean by 'recent issues'?
Is this a new problem after changes (new rear brake shoes)?
By long pedal do you mean excessive pedal movement before braking?
Have any other brake components been replaced/removed/refitted?
Has the brake fluid been drained/lowered/refilled/bled?
What is the sequence/time frame of any changes made?

[myoldjalopy]

Check brake fluid level in the master cylinder first.

[Minor49]

Thanks for the reply, further info:
Complete rebuild completed last year, brakes have been fine, good/full pedal, 2 weeks ago partway through a run pedal travel suddenly increased dramatically, once home I checked adjustment & found the rear O/S adjustment to be fully off (lowest point on cam) & N/S fully adjusted but drum very free, just to demonstrate pulled handbrake on one notch at a time & drum still free after 3 notches!!
My worry is one the N/S on full adjustment but obviously not enough & secondly the O/S adjuster will adjust fully then jump over to the beginning again? No air in brakes & fluid level OK?
John

[oliver90owner]

Symptoms certainly point towards the brake adjustment. Either the snail cams or the brake shoes need checking for changes.

Does the pedal go hard if ‘pumped’? If so, it is unlikely anything to do with brake fluid level.

[paul 300358]

Some people (myself included) have found that new brake shoes are slightly smaller than the original. I have increased the length of the shoes by adding a run of weld to the edge then filing down so that its the correct shape. But whatever you do, don't adjust the handbrake cables as it can adjust the shoes away from the slave cylinder.

[Minor49]

Thanks for the advice, I wondered if it might be shoe size or the drums had been skimmed! I’ll try a bit of weld & see how it goes!!! John

[Minor49]

One other thing I thought of is packing under the adjuster, has anyone tried that?
Thanks John