Rear Brake Cylinders

[bob hughes]

Hi Guys

Have to fit new brake cylinders on my old girl (BJ7), and my question is, once they have been installed and without fitting the brake linings, how easy (or hard) should it be to slide the cylinders in the backplate? The old ones moved, but I had to drift them along. That does not seem right.



Bob

 

[Bob_Spidell]

They should slide easily (back-and-forth, if I'm reading your question correctly).

 

[bighealeysource]

And they are so much fun to install !!!!

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I'll add it's important that they do slide easily; the rear brakes are called 'self-energizing'--we might say 'servoed'--because when the leading shoe engages it pushes against the trailing shoe thus increasing the pressure and friction on the drum.

I found a way to make installation easier: don't fit the E-brake lever until after fitting the plates and rubber seal (a topic in its own right). Then, the cylinder can be prised up just enough to fit the lever 'stubs' under the engaging 'hooks'--can't think of a better word--on the cylinder. A thin smear of grease under the fitting plates is helpful.

 

[bob hughes]

Thanks guys. I had our local garage fit them in the end due to a small accident between myself and the pavement that put my left hand out of commision for a while.