Technical Hand brake adjustment at the shoes can it be done?

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Technical Hand brake adjustment at the shoes can it be done?

dumbledore

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I just replace both hand brake cables in order to fix a hand brake issue. Before the change the driver side brake was not working at all, and the passanger was working at about 30%. Now after the handbrake cable replace the driver side works 100%, but passenger side still 30% I would say. I can still move the wheel lifted with handbrake engaged when I apply 126Nm to the bolts to try to tighten them up.

My read brake shoes have been changed recently and are in good nick. My question is that the shoes I got have an automatic adjuster, is there a way to adjust this and if do can it be done without removing the shoes?
 
Thanks Fingers. I can remove the drum with not much difficulty, however I have automatic adjusters that do not have a adjuster nut. The automatic adjusters may be reset to a position that is more appropriate but not sure how this can be done with the drum off but with the brake shoes fitted. I am not keen to remove the shoes as this may require removing the hub for better access.
 
Thanks Fingers, It sounds like a good tip applying the footbrake hard. I shall try this and see if it works. The cable should be fine as is new.
 
I had problems with my Punto 90 elx I replaced handbrake cables thinking it was that but it wasn't I put new hubs and shoes in and still no luck with the wheels locking with handbrake up kept on failing mot and the garage said it was the adjusters so what I did was apply some grease to adjusters not a lot otherwise it would contaminate shoes slacking main handbrake cable pull the little clip on the adjusters back slightly so you can turn adjuster on the cog until there is enough slight clearance between the hub and shoes then pump brake pedal a few times then start lifting handbrake up and down a few times so the adjusters can settle then start to tighten up the main handbrake cable until its upto about 3 clicks and the wheels should lock up and problem solved hope this helps
 
I have shoes like this
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They don't have an adjuster and they suppose to adjust automatically. I can only think the mechanism may need to be adjusted by moving the teeth mechanism somehow. Is not clear to me how it can be done without removing the shoes which is a pain to do. And yes one of the wheels is not locking. However my handbrake works much better now as before it was ineffective.
 
I don't know if this is relevant in this case but back when I started driving to adjust drum brakes it was done by driving briskly backwards and very firmly applying the brakes. Don't know if it would work on modern brakes but could be worth a try. :D
 
the rear shoes on the mk2 / mk2b are the same as the mk1 by the parts images from google :)

Simples
There is a small set of teeth, that adjust for wear in the shoes/drums

Reset these
Drums off
Spray brake cleaner
Reset to smallest setting
drum on
Get in car - press brake pedal a good few times

this will make them readjust

however if they are stuck because of rusty backplates and gumed up friction spots, its only cure is a full strip down - clean - regrease - rebuild

Ziggy
 
Thanks,
I beginn to get it. I will try to see if I can adjust the brakes without dispmantling them. It looks like I need to move the teethed levers a few teeth. As long I move them in the correct direction I should be OK as otherwise it will be even worse. I think I can judge this as if I move them too much the drum will not fit. So at the moment as far as I remember the drum was ftting in much easier then the other side that works better.
 
I just tried something and it seems to be OK.
Here is what I did.
Loosened the handbrake cables.
Rmemoved the drum.
Release to top spring holding the two shoes in place.
With a scew driver push lever to losen the spring load between the two teeth levers. This detaches the teeth and the levers can move. As I removed the top spring the lever moved the direction I wanted. The teerh are behind so you can not see them but you can see the lever moving.
Put back the top spring.
Put the drum back. It was much more tight to get in now. This gave me confidence that it will work.
Adjust the brake cables and it seems to lock much better.
 
I had problems with my Punto 90 elx I replaced handbrake cables thinking it was that but it wasn't I put new hubs and shoes in and still no luck with the wheels locking with handbrake up kept on failing mot and the garage said it was the adjusters so what I did was apply some grease to adjusters not a lot otherwise it would contaminate shoes slacking main handbrake cable pull the little clip on the adjusters back slightly so you can turn adjuster on the cog until there is enough slight clearance between the hub and shoes then pump brake pedal a few times then start lifting handbrake up and down a few times so the adjusters can settle then start to tighten up the main handbrake cable until its upto about 3 clicks and the wheels should lock up and problem solved hope this helps

mhm putting grease on adjusters, something i havent tried yet
 
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