I know all tyres need changing due to cracking so a slave set of wheels have been fitted, old tyres removed (I've a simple tyre changer machine) and rims will get cleaned / coat of paint before new tyres fitted.
Whilst wheels off I fitted new front drums.
At last a decent brake pedal feel

The original drums were either worn or previously skimmed as even with new shoes it wasn't possible to adjust them enough to get them to drag when turning.
That meant although the brakes worked OK it took "two bites" with the pedal to get really hard.
First bite would move shoes outwards and take up some of the slack.
Whether first bite or second the brakes worked exactly the same - it's just that I prefer the harder pedal and suspect it would have been an MOT fail hence new drums.
I'm now looking forward to getting the tyres fitted so I can take for an MOT - and try the brakes as I'm hoping there will be an improvement is stopping ability.
Paul Humphries.