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Question on handbrake/brake adjustment

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T

tdskip

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Hi guys - this is for the Bugeye.

The handbrake handle assembly was gone from the car, so I tracked one down and installed it. After installing it there was ZERO tension on the cable.

So a broke out the manual, took 47 years of gunk off her handbrake adjustment cable. I adjusted her to the middle of the adjustment range and then...nothing.

I then noticed that the assembly that leads to either side of the drum brakes moves freely and doesn't seem to put any drag on the wheels at any point. So no matter how I adjusted the assembly it wasn't going to do any good.

I should add that the brakes work fine via brake pedal and adjusted so there is just the slightest bit of drag on the wheel without being applied.


Does this suggest that the connection inside the rear drum of off?
 
The connection to the brake is on the outside, a lever that goes into the brake cylinder and moves the cylinder tighter.

Do you have maxium adjustment on the cable?
 
Hi Jack - thanks for the help!

I think I need to make sure the lever that goes into the brake cylinder is working. Since I can move the pivot connection (name?) all the way forward and back without any change in brake tension I'm thinking there is a problem in the lever connection to the cylinder.

Let me check that and I'll report back.
 
There is no connection to the cylinder. The end of the peice that goes into the brake drumb area, and thus into the cylinder is on a pivot in side the drum and pushes against a slot in the cylinder to tighten the brake. This actually moves the entire cylinder closer to the brake. Look on Page 38 of the current Moss catalog for a pic. If all else fails I suggest three things.

1, Your drums are worn out and are too big. Thus the movement is way out of tolarance for the movement ability of the pivot arm.

2. The shoes are worn badly same result.

3. Prob some of both of the above.


That said, do the rear brakes really work? When pedal is applied do they really tighten up? With the wheel up in the air a bit have someone push on the pedal and then try to turn the wheel.

With the wheel and drumb off the car pull the emer, brake on one click at a time and watch and see if it expands the brake shoes. You see from what you said I think the brake cylinders are all the way close to the shoes/shoe and might even be frozen there. It should move back and forth a bit in that slot it is mounted in ie standard position and brake either foot or hand on position.

Nominal inside diametre of brake drumb is 7".
 
Thanks again Jack - the rear drums work, so something else must be off here. Let me pull the tire and (carefully) take a look.
 
Check where it mounts to rear axle and make sure the brackets are not bent.

Patrick
 
Good idea Pat, sure would like to see that, it has to be something simple.
 
Thanks Jack.

They get bent up from PO's pulling the handle to high.
 
I guess that if the mount or what ever was pulled forward the cable would be too long. That's one tough mount though but I bet something is bent. Sure as heck would look for it in any case. Wonder if the cable is locked in the mount properly, should be a captured nut and a locking nut.

As Miss Agathas rear end is out on the floor with the cable installed I can get a pic if needed?? Oh that was a bit spicy, sorry.
 
Thanks for the the help & coaching guys.

Looks like it is in the connection of either the rods that the brake cable moves or the lever connection to the brakes....
 
Hmm, keep us advised.
 
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