rear brakes-lack of adjustment!?

[davidmuir]

Folks, Adjusting rear brakes, one fine , the other adjuster goes right in until 'nose' of adjuster past the wedges and still no drum lock?? Drum and linings look fine, everything moving freely..........what's going on?. Could it be worn adjuster?, really worn drum?....all looks okay!

D

[captain]

could be you have the wrong length of adjuster wedges in, there are different,types and you have probably,put the short ones in.

[Spider]

I'd measure the drum diameter, should be 7.00". even as little at 0.030" increase will make a HUGE difference. It may have been machined in the past.

[dklawson]

could be you have the wrong length of adjuster wedges in, there are different,types and you have probably,put the short ones in.

+1 on that. I was unaware of the different lengths until recently when I was helping a friend replace his brakes.

[captain]

could be you have the wrong length of adjuster wedges in, there are different,types and you have probably,put the short ones in.

+1 on that. I was unaware of the different lengths until recently when I was helping a friend replace his brakes.

made the same mistake myself ONE IS ALWAYS WISER AFTER THE EVENT

[davidmuir]

All, thanks for advice/info. Didn't know of different lengths.......will compare the two and order up.
Thanks again.

[davidmuir]

Have looked on various vendor websites..........don't see any mention of length choice on brake 'tappets'!?

[dklawson]

I have not seen different part number listings for the wedges. However, after ordering an adjuster rebuild kit we noticed that the new wedges were a different length than those removed from the car. At the moment I cannot remember if the new wedges were shorter or longer.

[Spider]

Have looked on various vendor websites..........don't see any mention of length choice on brake 'tappets'!?

+1. I've only know of the one type, not to say that there isn't 2 lengths.

[captain]

Hi david has this been a project that has been an on going thing for a period of years picking up bits from here and there, back plates etc,, there are definitely two lengths of tappets depending on the type of adjuster fitted.I have had this same problem , and realised, that was the fault, I am quite sure I have two long tappets to overcome your concern

[davidmuir]

Captain, I'm interested in the tappets to experiment with-PM me,
Thanks, D

[Tim Harber]

Glad to be pushed into this as I have never had proper rear brakes on my racer for exactly this reason

Have just looked at what we have out of originals and replacement. All have same dimension to where it matters IE ramp where the shoe sits, although the total length is different on some.

Recently have received some with an extraordinary amount of adjustment (end one ). This will sort mine and your problem but is still a mystery as to why there isn't enough adjustment in the first place

The part number has never changed from the earliest parts book that I have (1961), so I suspect it has always been the same

Don't start me on handbrake levers and types..

[captain]

Glad to be pushed into this as I have never had proper rear brakes on my racer for exactly this reason

Have just looked at what we have out of originals and replacement. All have same dimension to where it matters IE ramp where the shoe sits, although the total length is different on some.

Recently have received some with an extraordinary amount of adjustment (end one ). This will sort mine and your problem but is still a mystery as to why there isn't enough adjustment in the first place

The part number has never changed from the earliest parts book that I have (1961), so I suspect it has always been the same

Don't start me on handbrake levers and types..

Thank You for verifying exactly what I have been trying to explain

[Spider]

Tim, thanks for putting up the photo, never before did I see.

I also checked a few parts books, from early to very late, and I only found the one type, so I'm wondering if the longer ones may have been after market, QH or someone else? Any leads on where these maybe available from?

edit> Just looking again at the photo, the top 4 have the same effective length, it's only the bottom one that is longer. It does also appear to be after market as the factory ones have a ground finish.

[minimans]

Umm just a thought but if the shoes were incorrectly fitted (ie back to front) would this cause the problem? I have a trailing arm assy in front of me but no time to sod around trying............

[davidmuir]

Tim, where did you source the longer tappet?.........looks like it would solve my problem!
D