Rear brake adjustment

[eng622]

Having similar problems to an old post and looking as the handbrake is very poor and maybe the rear footbrake as well,
The adjusters go all the way to the maximum then the next click takes them back to minimum and at max there is no resistance on the drum at all.
The handbrake on the NS starts to come after 4 clicks and locks the wheels on 5 but that does not seem good enough to me.
The OS does not do anything and likewise if the cable is tightened.
I have no spare parts to compare, the linings are not new but look serviceable, the cylinders, hand brake cables are newish done by PO who spent a lot of money on the brakes etc, work done professionally

[svenedin]

The adjustments to the shoe adjusters should be made with the handbrake completely off. You say the previous owner spent money on the brakes. Did they work properly? When did this problem start?

A good start would be to measure the diameter of the drum (in inches) in the unlikely situation that you have some unusual set up.

Is it the correct cylinder? Nothing can be taken for granted on Minors!

Have you got the shoes the right way round? There is a leading and a trailing shoe for the rear brakes. This mix up can happen when working on both rear brakes at the same time.

When you turn the adjuster each click are you seeing the shoe move outwards?

If everything seems correct as far as you can ascertain then the next move would be a set of new shoes.

Stephen

[myoldjalopy]

Sounds like the braking system needs a bit of an overhaul. Maybe the problem with adjustment is the adjusters are worn out, or the wrong size. There have been cases on this forum with the latter issue - and I have experienced the former.......could not get the brakes one one wheel to lock, but new (second-hand) adjusters cured the problem.

[svenedin]

Sounds like the braking system needs a bit of an overhaul. Maybe the problem with adjustment is the adjusters are worn out, or the wrong size. There have been cases on this forum with the latter issue - and I have experienced the former.......could not get the brakes one one wheel to lock, but new (second-hand) adjusters cured the problem.

The adjusters can be quite hard to find second-hand but they are around. Alternatively, ESM are having them made again but they are expensive. Note that the Morris rear brakes are 7" in all models and the correct adjusters must be used. Later cars have 8" front brakes and the adjusters are not interchangeable front/rear. Possibly the brake drums have been skimmed and are oversize, the wrong brake shoes etc. Just guesswork until we hear back from the OP. There was a batch of brake shoes some years ago that were undersize and ESM took them back.

Stephen

[eng622]

The OS lower lining is less than 1.5 mm in places so that could be the problem. 7in drums adjusters work can see the shoe moving out. Would have thought that you should still be able to lock the drum even with worn linings.

[svenedin]

A set of rear brake shoes is really not expensive. Time for new ones.

Stephen

[ManyMinors]

I bought a set of new rear shoes for my car at one time and had this problem. I just welded a shim of steel onto the base of the adjuster mask to cure the problem. All has been well ever since.