New brake shoe won’t adjust to drum

[MorrisJohn]

Quick question. My car was braking violently to the left. It’s on 8” drums.

So I recently had new shoes and cylinders fitted to the RH side (I’ve got new ones for the LH too, which will be done shortly to keep things even).

When trying to adjust the top new shoe will not adjust up to the drum. The bottom one will adjust down to it.

Looking at old forum posts, I’ve tried taking the drum off and making sure I’ve a full range of adjustment notches, which I do, but it still won’t adjust up close enough to the drum (I can see it moving up with each notch). The bottom adjusts close enough okay.

This means the car still pulls left under braking.

All I can think of is perhaps the drums are worn or have been skimmed at some point. So I’ve got a couple of replacement drums ordered in the hope that fixes it.

Just wanted to check I’m not missing anything blindingly obvious?

[simmitc]

There have been numerous reports of cheap pattern shoes not operating correctly due to dimensions being wrong and people have resorted to using packing pieces under the adjusters (not recommended). Buying more expensive branded shoes usually solves the problem - if it does, then complain to the original supplier.

You could try swapping the adjusters over and seeing whether the problem moves from top to bottom or stays where it is in case it is a worn adjuster. Unlikely to be the drum as it is round and would also have been skimmed away from the bottom shoe, it would not have been done only half way round, and you always managed to get the same half in the same position Also check that the cylinder is extending freely and not binding to prevent full extension.

[philthehill]

You could always try these adjusters:-

https://www.morrisminorspares.com/brake ... s-p1238194

[MorrisJohn]

Many thanks. They are pattern shoes, so that could well be the issue. I’ll have another check of the cylinders too.

And thanks to Phil for the link to the adjuster.

Very helpful

There have been numerous reports of cheap pattern shoes not operating correctly due to dimensions being wrong and people have resorted to using packing pieces under the adjusters (not recommended). Buying more expensive branded shoes usually solves the problem - if it does, then complain to the original supplier.

You could try swapping the adjusters over and seeing whether the problem moves from top to bottom or stays where it is in case it is a worn adjuster. Unlikely to be the drum as it is round and would also have been skimmed away from the bottom shoe, it would not have been done only half way round, and you always managed to get the same half in the same position Also check that the cylinder is extending freely and not binding to prevent full extension.