General Multipla rear brake shoes on 2003 JTD

[Shepherd]

I have fitted brake shoes before but not on a Multipla.

Has anyone replaced rear shoes on a Multipla or is anyone familiar with the type of adjusters used on the Multipla?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

 

[dirtyhands]

have a look in here.
http://www.apecbraking.co.uk/

 

[widemouthfrog]

Pretty straightforward job. The drums can be a bit tricky to get off if they have worn, as they leave a lip on the inside edge which is hard to get past the shoes. I fitted new drums and shoes.

The adjusters are a strange contraption. Even after I'd played around with a new one for a while, I couldn't fully fathom how it worked. There's a fairly fragile spring steel clip on them that acts as a ratchet to stop it contracting under braking pressure; this had broken on one of mine, hence the need for a new one. I don't think it's possible just to buy the little clip on its' own. Ebay is the cheapest place I culd find for the adjusters - around £25/side (not cheap!). That's why I just bought the one.

I also bought new fitting kits which can be had cheaply from Buypartsby (about £4/side from memory). This has new springs and pins which saves the need to clean the old bits up.

There's a plastic inspection plug in the drum backplate that often goes missing. They are a complete rip-off from Fiat - £3+ for a very cheap bit of plastic. I'm sure there must be a cheaper option than that. From memory, the hole size is 30 or 32mm diameter. They're worth fitting though. The drum internals on the side that had the missing plug were noticeably more cruddy than the one with.

 

[Shepherd]

Thanks for the info so far.

Do you know if the adjusters are automatic? Is it a case of winding them back, fitting the drum then pulling the hand brake/pumping the pedal to reset them? Thanks.

 

[widemouthfrog]

There's a finger grip in the middle of them that you twist to take up the slack. That pins the aduster in place. After that, the adjustment is automatic. It's all pretty unskilled and stress-free! It's worth looking at the relevant page on eper to see how it fits.

 

[martyc5674]

Ye sure their automatic???
I had a drum off yesterday cos something funny was going on.
Same as you sidemouth... Clip had disintegrated.
Anyhow I had no choice but to rebuild so I tastefully damaged the threads on the adjuster so it won't be moving in the meantime.
I can't see how they are automatic though... Maybe I would if the clip wasn't there but it's not the same as ones I've seem before.
Marty.

 

[Shepherd]

Could you tell me the actual procedure in adjusting these? Do you slacken the adjuster off to the maximum then replace the drum then activate the handbrake/pump pedal etc to activate the self adjuster?? Thanks again.

 

[martyc5674]

Make sure handbrake lever is fully down... Check to ensure there's a bit if slack in the cable, you need some.

Wind up the adjuster popping the drum on and off until it starts to bind.
Put on drum retaining bolts... Pump the pedal a few times and ensure the drum still spins free.
Check there's a bit of slack still in the cable( you don't want your cable doing the job of the adjuster.)
If there's excess slack still adjust at the handbrake with the lever down...leave a bit of slack!!
Once your happy that the shoes rest point is nice and close to the drum but not binding your done.

 

[widemouthfrog]

Ye sure their automatic???
Marty.

Yes, they are automatic, until that clip breaks. Then the winder mech is free to collapse back in on itself when the brake's applied. Then you have to buy a new adjuster.....

How they adjust themselves 'outwards' after the initial install was what I couldn't figure out.

 

[martyc5674]

Picked up an adjuster the weekend and went about fixing up my rear brake woes.
Seized brake cylinder...2 damaged adjusters and one seized brake cable.
Anyway freed up the brake cylinder.
Grinded the hubs even tho the ridge was minimal.
The adjusters ARE automatic and basically if you compress them the spring on them moves back... If they are allowed to decompress they will wind on...so bAsically each handbrake movement will help wind em on.
I reckon these are knackered on nearly all multiplas over a few years old.
If your brake pedal is travelling a bit farther than you think it should theses are a likely culprit.
Managed to free up the brake cable and stuck it s back together.
Stuck a bit of guttering under the handbrake mechanism to hopefully keep the elements at bay in future.
Marty.

 

[widemouthfrog]

Told you they're automatic! They're quite clever bits of kit aren't they? Just a shame that the spring clips fatigue/rust so easily and that writes them off. The rest of the mech was fine on mine.

It's ironic that one of those adjusters costs about the same as a pair of brake cylinders . You're probably right about the whole lot being knackered on most Multiplas, but it's cheap to fix.