I am replacing pads and drums all the way around. On the first one I realized that neither the new or old drum will fit over the new pads. Any ideas or tips? 1972 Fiat 500L

ReKone said:

I am replacing pads and drums all the way around. On the first one I realized that neither the new or old drum will fit over the new pads. Any ideas or tips? 1972 Fiat 500L

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It doesn’t look from the picture that the pads are pressed in far enough on the wheel cylinder. You can see a lot of piston on the right hand side.

Can you push them in further? If not you may need to slacken the bleed nipple off a bit to release some pressure in the system and then try pushing the pistons back further.

Tony

Thanks Tony, I will try that and update the post.

I don't think you will need to slacken the bleed nipple to push the piston back, it looks more likely that the adjuster on the right hand shoe is holding the shoe out, you should be able to lever the shoe back ok.

Have you eased off the hand-brake adjustment? It would have been adjusted for your old, worn, shoes and therefore will most probably be keeping the new (thicker) shoes too far out. Hand-brake cable is adjustable on both sides by easing off the 19mm nut at the end of the cable sheathing and then winding back the other 19mm nut (which is on the front side of the holding bracket). This will effectively shorten the length of the outer sheath. You will probably have to do this on both sides. I obtained an old pair of 19mm spanners and shortened them, which made it much easier to adjust the nuts.

Thanks! The bleed screw method didn’t work. I will try adjusting the hand brake

I will try levering the screw also.

Push the shoes in toward each other with a lever,but not where the metal is not touching the friction material, replace drums,drive forward and slam the brakes on hard,also do this in reverse,this will move the shoes out closer to the drum,adjusting them,and your foot pedal will be great. Then adjust the hand brake.

Just did the passenger side rear parking brake adjustment. It took some work with a wire brush and degreaser, then oil and some working the bolts back and forth but I finally gained full travel on the two bolts. Then I tightened the inner bolt until it was at the beginning of the bolt, and then tightened the outer bolt to meet it at the bracket. Problem solved. Thanks all! Tommorow I will do the other side.

Both rear brakes done. I cleaned the parking brake adjustment bolts so well you could spin the nut from one end to the other. Thanks all.