Live axle breakes

[Mikey UC]

I’m changing the break shoes on my live axle but am not clear on the way they are fitted.

 

The handbrake lever on the cylinder must fit through the trapezoidal hole on one shoe, but will the trapezoidal hole end on the other brake shoe butt up to the cylinder or the adjuster? ie will the brake shoes look symmetrical when fitted.

 

The last time I fitted my break shoes, I fitted the second break shoe with the trapezoidal hole facing the break adjuster, the breaks seemed to work ok but they made a scraping sound when driving along.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

[Mikey UC]

 

Just to clear a few things up, my live axle hasent 'broken'

I just cant spell brake.

 

☹️ ☹️

[Robster]

You are right that the handbrake lever goes through the funny shaped hole, but the opposite shoe sits the opposite way around, ie funny hole at the adjuster.

 

Look at how the springs are mounted, they are fidly to put back on so you put the springs through the holes in the shoes, then pull the shoes apart and mount them on the adjuster/cylinder.

 

Good luck.

 

Robin

[Mikey UC]

Thanks for the advice Robin, have now fitted the brake shoes.

 

Only problem I now have is that when I spin the wheel the drum rubs on the shoe at one point during the cycle, even with the adjuster nut fully retracted.

 

Does anyone know if this is normal until the shoes have bedded in, or is there something else I need to look out for.

 

Thanks again for any help.

 

[JAG]

If it's only an intermittent rubbing noise try pressing the brake pedal - the shoes may not be fully centred inside the drum. By pushing the pedal you will press the shoes against the inside of the drum and they will self align. This should stop/reduce the rubbing noise.

 

Also; drumbrake shoes are ground to a smaller radius than the drum they are supposed to fit inside. This means that the centre of the lining on the shoe will contact the drum first when the brake pedal is pressed. The reduced area of contact means that the shoes bed in a little quicker.

 

Hope this helps

 

JAG