Drum brakes

[carpet monster]

Currently doing the drum brakes on my 106.

Think I prefer discs! What a pig of a job.

[Specialone]

They are ok once you've done a few, does the 106 have self adjusting mechanisms?

[carpet monster]

Yeah. It's the first time I've touched them. Springs everywhere! I want to learn more about them...

[metalmonkey]

Why, just why do they put these brakes on modern cars:smt075

[Specialone]

Yeah. It's the first time I've touched them. Springs everywhere! I want to learn more about them...

One word of advice, take a pic on your phone before starting so you can see where everything goes and /or take both rear wheels off and use the one side as reference.

[DJ123]

Why, just why do they put these brakes on modern cars:smt075
Because they are pennies to buy and make. then they can charge you more when it comes to servicing the brakes and replacing the linings.

[Wideboy]

and its funny when the chavs paint them to stand out, coz dey fink itz cool init

[punyXpress]

Yep!
17 inch rims over 6 inch drums (or discs) do it for me every time. :p

[Sid Squid]

Why, just why do they put these brakes on modern cars:smt075
Several reasons, of which the two most important are that they're cheap to make and last a long time which reduces overall cost to owner, and it's still the most convenient brake to attach a handbrake mechanism to.

[yorkie_chris]

Drum brakes are great. If you're whinging about them you obviously haven't had a proper bloody scrap trying to wind the piston back on some handbrake disc calipers.

Grind off the wear lip if they've had some use... this makes them a lot easier to get on and off and set up.

Next mistake is trying to do all adjustment at the cable instead of inside.

[Balky001]

I hate drumn brakes too (never had to do rear discs on a car so can't comment on handbrake set up).

Am changing shoes on the KA but was told by my ex-mechanic father in law that I should also change cylinders as they tend to leak after a change as mine are worn to full adjustment (handbrake only just holds as only one side is in contact with the drum). Not sure if that is good avice (and for the Pug too??) or just being over cautious...

[Sir Trev]

My 12-plate Focus has drums on the back and it stops f-ing well. Just like a bike you put most of the braking force on the front so the rear is less of a factor. Very heavy cars may need more powerful units on the back but your everyday hatch doesn't.

[Dicky Ticker]

One little tip when you refit the springs make sure you have them the correct way round,as in pulling the shoes towards the back plate.
The back plate will probably have a raised piece indicating this and the leading edges in the right direction of rotation
A piece of string over the spring ends to pull on will prevent twisting the springs and deforming them.
Make sure all the adjusters are moving freely before reassembly and use a brake adjusting tool as the back piece where you adjust is pretty soft metal and can round off easily

Two types of adjuster,cam and gear,above applies to cam

[timwilky]

Well got mine to do at the weekend. fun

[carpet monster]

One little tip when you refit the springs make sure you have them the correct way round,as in pulling the shoes towards the back plate.
The back plate will probably have a raised piece indicating this and the leading edges in the right direction of rotation
A piece of string over the spring ends to pull on will prevent twisting the springs and deforming them.
Make sure all the adjusters are moving freely before reassembly and use a brake adjusting tool as the back piece where you adjust is pretty soft metal and can round off easily

Two types of adjuster,cam and gear,above applies to cam

Mine don't seem to have an adjuster as you describe it, just a spring loaded pivot on the back of one of the shoes.

[Dicky Ticker]

I am used to commercial fittings but if that is your case how do you adjust the brakes once you have fitted them-----------are the self adjusting?
Still applies regarding leading edges and make sure the self adjusters are all working and set a minimum adjustment when re- fitting.
You may find the brake pedal will go quite far down initially but as you pump the brakes the adjusters take up the play and firms the pedal up

[punyXpress]

I am used to commercial fittings but if that is your case how do you adjust the brakes once you have fitted them-----------are the self adjusting?
Still applies regarding leading edges and make sure the self adjusters are all working and set a minimum adjustment when re- fitting.
You may find the brake pedal will go quite far down initially but as you pump the brakes the adjusters take up the play and firms the pedal up
Best do that bit before you set off or you may find the first time you REALLY need the brakes they've gone AWOL!

[Dicky Ticker]

Some cars require you to remove the drums by undoing the wheel bearings if this is the case find the torque settings before doing them up as to tight/loose runs the bearings.Make sure they are running free before fitting the wheels

You will probably have a lip on the drum due to wear and find that your brakes are not 100%,this is while they are bedding in and bringing the linings back to conform with the drums. This normally goes after a bit of use and the brakes improve.

If you are unsure about anything PM me and I will give you my mobile

[yorkie_chris]

I grind wear lip off, this makes life easy.

Then there's usually a self adjuster inside but they don't always work perfectly, they're a little ratcheting thread thing. Just wind them around, refit the drum, play with it until the handbrake works properly.

[embee]

Usually good practice to slacken the cable adjustment (if it has one) right off first, pump the footbrake a few times (which operates the self-adjust), THEN re-adjust the cable. Common mistake is to simply tighten the cable up, which means you end up with less and less travel of the levers inside the drums.

I've come across handbrakes not working on one side, only to find the gubbins inside the drum has reached the end-stop before the shoes reach the drum.

[Balky001]

did mine today. Massive improvement. Both cylinders did have a leak when I checked the rubber seals so worth doing. :) However did manage to damage the drum outside when it spun off the lave but not too bad :smt120

[BanannaMan]

I'd have the drums turned on a brake lathe.
Removes rust lip so you can adjust the brakes proper and they are probably out of round as well.

Not like the old days anymore when you had big thick heavy drums and rotors and asbestos in the brake linings.
Todays cars do need drums and rotors turned.

I hate drum brakes.
Nasty bits, needlessly complicated.
Done any with springs on both sides?

Ideal set up on most newer cars is push-in calipers on the rear with seperate shoes for the park brake that are inside the rotor.

[Dicky Ticker]

Balky,Why did you have the drake drums on the lav:)

[carpet monster]

Job sorted. Brilliant feeling! And now I have decent brakes on both sides!

Next up is the exhaust (link pipe between cat and silencer), I spotted at least three pin-***** sized holes while I was buggering about on the drive doing the drums....

[Balky001]

Balky,Why did you have the drake drums on the lav:)

Something to play with :)

Have to say the braking on the little 1998 Ka has been transformed now all new pads, shoes and discs. And the handbrake works!

[suzukigt380paul]

from having both rear disc's and drums on mondeo's,what i can tell you is they both pull up as well as each other.and drums and there shoes last longer,my old mondeo lasted 100k before needing new shoes and brake piston kits,whareas disc's last no more then 50k

[carpet monster]

mondeo lasted 100k before needing new shoes and brake piston kits,whareas disc's last no more then 50k

Well, it depends how you drive.

[dirtydog]

I've got the drums and shoes to do on the transit as they're warped, have had the new parts for about 8 months now just not quite found the enthusiasm to do them yet

[timwilky]

Yes my new shoes are sat on the bench, football and beer took priority this weekend.