Technical rear brake adjustment punto mk2

[ALAN MILNES]

Hi Guys, Can anyone let me know the procedure for adjusting the rear brakes on my mk 2 punto. I have fitted new shoes and rather stuck with what to do with the self adjusters. These are on a ratchet across the top of the set up and not on the right hand shoe as some appear to be. I adjusted it by tightening the cable. Problem is that the left shoes started binding and the right ones barely held? I have concluded it must be something to do with self adjusters? - HELP!
Thanks

 

[x Alex x]

it's tricky, you need to get a screw driver and wedge/force them outwards towards the drum, youll hear the mechanism clicking

 

[tinytim]

if the shoes are installed correctly and the self adjusters are working they should set up automatically when you press the footbrake; this should be done with the handbrake cable slackened right off; the purpose of the handbrakes cable is only to take up slack/stretch in the handbrake cable not to adjust for wear on the shoes/drums otherwise shoe swill not be centralised....

 

[deano191]

Hi Guys, Can anyone let me know the procedure for adjusting the rear brakes on my mk 2 punto. I have fitted new shoes and rather stuck with what to do with the self adjusters. These are on a ratchet across the top of the set up and not on the right hand shoe as some appear to be. I adjusted it by tightening the cable. Problem is that the left shoes started binding and the right ones barely held? I have concluded it must be something to do with self adjusters? - HELP!
Thanks

i have same prob the adjuster ratchet is joined to the brake shoe. how do you replace this or will it be on new brake shoes help..

 

[Ziggy122]

With the Handbrake cables adjuster (inside the car) with very little tension on it
ie loosen it as much as possible

jack up - remove wheel - drum - Blast the Drum clean with air compressor (hold breathe and look away) or use Brake cleaner

Anyway - Then Move the Ratchets to the factory Fresh setting ie
As if they were new

Drum on - wheel on - Repeat on other side

Once both have been done
Get in the Car and Press on the brake pedal, several time
you'll hear the rear drums clicking quiet loud

And then tension the handbrake back up

they are self adjusting - so by resting them - and making them readjust you know they'll be in right place

if you are finding the rear shoes dont wanna Adjust all the way up - its probably because the drums are too well worn
So 2 new drums and set of shoe - you'll find it alot better to getting them to bite well
Okay it took my Handbrake months to bed in - but once its there - its spot on
yes i did clean them before fitting

Ziggy

 

[DaveMcT]

Drums and shoes will wear. Also the levers on the brake back plate (those pulled by the hand brake) can get sprained. New brakes can still leave the car with a weak handbrake in which case it needs new back plate levers.

If replacing the brakes consider replacing the slave cylinders as they fail due to old age more than use.

 

[Ziggy122]

your handbrake cables too are a weak point
if they are looked frayed and split and weak - this may also be a problem with a weak handbrake

cylinders - i've had one replaced, but as far as i know - both are good

If the Drum has had a good lip on it in the past but sanded down
Or has a fat lip now - time to have them replaced

Before fitting new drums - Clean them with brake cleaner, and Spray them before they go onto the car
Try and stop the rust which will one day form - forming alot sooner

Ziggy

 

[DaveMcT]

I am so not going to suggest my bestist cure for new or rusty brake drums.

 

[Mr Wild]

You should check is your handbrake cable tension, if you've got good braking on one side and not the other, there's a chance you've got cable stretch and you can verify this by removing the rear ash tray, and check the handbrake adjuster. If you have a fair amount of tension on both cables, but the adjuster is tilted to one side, then you'll probably have to replace both cables.

If it's not tilted then the next step is to open up the brakes and check the self-adjusters, if it's completely slack one side then either the cable has snapped or come loose.

If your drums have a lip on the outside rim, you can remove this with an angle grinder, I wouldn't worry about replacing them personally unless something's significantly wrong with them, on the smaller engined puntos they will easily last 5, if not 10 years. Tart them up with a bit of paint.

 

[Ziggy122]

I am so not going to suggest my bestist cure for new or rusty brake drums.

is it where you walk to the Auto Spares shop and ask for 2?

Failing that - stick them on a lathe and spin with a Tip till its clean
Or stick a sanding pad on the lathe to do a quick job?

the best way to adjust the drums is treat them like there been installed fresh
So that the ""friction"" spots are also cleaned up and Given a good dob of copper grease, to prevent noise brakes and then seizing
Thats if the brakes have good meat on them tho

ziggy