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Braking and tires

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Moseso said:
One more consideration, re rears not locking up/modest braking with the hand lever: You just replaced the shoes. They may not match the drum diameter well enough yet to be giving their full effect. If you take the drums and shoes to a good brake shop, they can arc the shoes to match the drums. Or, you can just wait for them to wear-in -- but they won't give their full effect until the shoes make 100% contact with the drums.
Click to expand...

Or even more basically, are they adjusted up to the drums after installation?..
 
Well-- let's see now.

There were no instructions from TSI.

The shoes are adjusted to have just a slight amount of drag, and I planned to check and re-adjust them soon as the initial wear occurs.

I deglazed the drums with wet 400 grit paper, followed by soapy water scrub, plain water, dry and then liberal spraying and wiping with brake cleaner.

I bedded in the brakes with several mod. to hard stops from increasingly higher speeds, not stopping , and cooling between cycles.

I hadn't thought of the PDWA valve. Good idea. I'll take a look at the Haynes to see how I can check the function.

Thanks for all the help folks. This is a great forum.

Tom
 
Thanks Paul. That's very helpful. One thing I guess I don't understand, tho, is whether the PDWA can adversely affect the front -to- rear braking forces, or whether it's only a warning device to alert you of a leak or other imbalance.
In other words, could my apparent lack of rear braking power be due to a faulty PDWA valve? I someone could educate me on this I'd appreciate it.
Thanks,
Tom
 
The PDWA is only a warning device, has no effect on braking forces at all; even after it's tripped.

It's marginally possible yours could be plugged up somehow, but it seems unlikely.
 
Tom, you might consider installing the larger Morgan rear wheel cylinders. I used them with Ted's brake shoes (and Toyota calipers on the front) and the front to rear brakes seem well balanced. When you have the original wheel cylinders and the Morgan's side by side, there's quite a difference in the piston diameter, otherwise they're identical. I got mine at Victoria British.
 
David, I would like to do that, if I don't already have them. The PO had the braking system completely rebuilt, and I'm not sure which rear cyls, are in there now. Is there a way to visually identify whether they are stock or the larger Morgans? I can pull them apart and check the bore size if necessary. I just don't want to order Morgan cyls. if I already have them.

Tom
 
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