brake shoe rattle?

[cdsmith]

I've been trying to figure out what has been rattling in the front of the little car for a while now...
I think I've traced it down to the right front brake shoe.
I re-adjusted the brakes, but haven't had a chance to take it out for a listen.
Has anyone out there had a similar problem? There does not seem to be anything preventing this rattle from happening - is there suppose to be something preventing this from happening?
What do you think?
cd

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Maybe a broken retainer spring? I dunno, I do not have drums on the front. Maybe Jack can help.

 

[jlaird]

Do the brakeshoes have the springs installed?

 

[cdsmith]

Springs are there (two of them), neither are broken....
I don't feel it is a safety issue - just an annoyance.
cd

 

[jlaird]

Just can not think what else it might be in there unless it is not in there.

How about a loose shock or radiator or or or.

Check all the bolts up in that corner.

 

[JPSmit]

have you pulled the drum to look inside? could be something rattling around

 

[cdsmith]

I've pulled the drum - everything looks okay. I've check for loose "things" nothing seems loose.

I can replicate the rattle by smacking the tire with a rubber hammer - if I push on the brake shoe (through the adjustment hole) the rattle goes away...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there really isn't anything to prevent the shoe from moving sideways within the drum...

If I can free up some time today - I'm going to take the care for a run and see if I can replicate the noise at will... If I can, then with light application of brakes it should go away - then I'll know for sure it's the brake shoe.

I'm kind of curious if anyone else has had a similar problem?

As always, thanks for the responses...

cd

 

[cdsmith]

Well...

Took The Little Car out for short drive - could not get the rattle to happen. I'm guessing that adjusting the brakes maybe removed some of the excess slop... Don't know, but does not seem to be rattling (at the present time).

I'm still interested in knowing if anyone else has had this problem...

Thanks to all.

cd

 

[Roger]

I can't remember the Sprite drums, but some cars have anti-rattle springs in addition to the normal return springs. They are small coil springs that sit against the shoe and are retained, in a variety of ways, by something passing through the spring and backplate, which also puts the coils spring under slight compression, so lightly holding the shoe against the backplate so it won't rattle around. Sometimes the springs are hooked into the backplate, sometimes retained by cotter pins.
This diagram shows clearly how it's done at the rear of the Lotus Europa, for example.

On the other hand, some cars don't! The return springs tend to pull back at a slight angle to keep the shoes in place.

 

[jlaird]

Rattle springs are on the rear.

 

[bugimike]

Jack Is right! Those Lotus anti-rattle springs are of a pretty universal design! :thumbsup: