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Rear Brakes [again!!]

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Jedi Hopeful
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Hi everyone
In my battle with the brakes on my BN4 I now have another issue.
I have replaced the shoes all cylinders etc and I have some brakes now that feel ok.
BUT, the springs on the rear shoes are very close to the hubs, so much so that they touch and make a horrible noise when the wheel turns. They didn't do this when I drove the car before.
I've measured the hole distance and compared to the old shoes and they are the same. This really has me flummoxed! Am I missing something really obvious here? There is very little room for the springs and I really can't see how they can go any other way. I have attached a couple of pics to show the problem and the way I have assembled the shoes. Perhaps someone can tell me if I've got it right. The only way I can see is to fit narrower springs, but these were on the car and were fine before.. . . HELP!
Thanks
Matthew DSC00088.jpgDSC00089.jpg
 
Matthew--

Strange indeed as if the holes are in exactly the same positions the springs should fit as before.

You mentioned you replaced "all cylinders".--are they the same size as the earlier ones?

Also, is this happening after you have adjusted the shoes, which will put more tension on the springs and in effect make them narrower, if only very little?
 
Hi Michael
Yes, I have adjusted the springs. I have seen some springs that have a single wire in the centre. I suspect that's what I need, but it's weird how it has suddenly become a problem. Thanks for the answer.
Matthew
 
As Michael mentioned, with the worn shoes the springs would have been stretched a bit. You do need the correct springs
though, with no coils in the center. Check the Moss catalog for pictures. Front springs were full coil, as were those on early 100 cars, so there may have been a mix up there.
Bob
 
Here is a pic of what I have been using.
 

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Hi Matthew,

Take a look at the rear brake pictures in the Healey Service manual. As Vette's picture shows, the center of the retention springs have a straight section with coils at each end. As I have always understood, this setup provides sufficient space to eliminate contact with the hub. I appreciate that Moss may have changed the configuration of the spring to allow it to share this piece with other cars,
Personally. Personally, I would look to another vendor to find the springs pictured in Vette's picture and in the Service Manual and return the springs you have.

Good luck,
Ray(64BJ8P1)
 
Ray, I believe his is an earlier model (BN4) which does not have the straight spacer between the spring ends. I believe he took off the springs he is trying to reuse so they should have fit. I am still thinking he has the wrong shoes. I would address this to Dave Nock at British Car Specialist. His family has worked on Healeys for 60 years and seen it all.
 
tahoe healey said:
Ray, I believe his is an earlier model (BN4) which does not have the straight spacer between the spring ends. I believe he took off the springs he is trying to reuse so they should have fit. I am still thinking he has the wrong shoes. I would address this to Dave Nock at British Car Specialist. His family has worked on Healeys for 60 years and seen it all.
Click to expand...

All rear drum brake shoes and springs are the same for hypoid axle equipped Healeys which covers late BN1 through BJ8. The OP has his shoes installed correctly but the springs are incorrect. They would appear to be the springs for the rear brakes of the early BN1 with the spiral bevel rear axle. The solution is to simply install the correct rear springs which are shown in the picture posted by "vette".
 
Matthew,
The springs that your are using do not appear to be correct. Typically, these brake shoe springs have a single wire for the mid section of the spring wit the coil portions only on the ends. I know that doesn't help understand why they were working previously. As the old shoes wore they would have been opened more and that may have been enough to get the clearance to not have them interfere with the hub. I would check that the appropriate springs are being used and also double check that the shoes are correct. I hope that helps..... Tony
 
Matthew said: "BUT, the springs on the rear shoes are very close to the hubs, so much so that they touch and make a horrible noise when the wheel turns. They didn't do this when I drove the car before."

Which begs the question of why Matthew was not aware of the noise before he changed things unless it was always there and he simply did not hear it due to engine exhaust noise, etc?
 
Thanks everyone. Great answers.
Vette and Ray, I think you have it. For some reason I have the wrong springs. Don't know why they weren't noisy before. Michael, I think would have heard it. It's quite loud. The backing plate is on an angle but I believe that's correct as are the shoes. When I get a moment I'll pull the front drums and make sure I haven't mixed up the springs. I don't think I could because the front springs don't attach shoe to shoe but rather, shoe to back plate. I think new springs will sort it. Thanks again everyone. Much appreciated.
Matthew
 
Matthew, don't bother pulling the front drums. The front springs have different style hooks at each end, the hooks are rotated 90 degrees from each other instead of being in the same plane and are shorter than rear springs. You could not fit them to the rear.
 
Thanks Craig. I thought so. You have saved me some work. It looks like the PO must have fitted the wrong springs to the rear at some point.
Cheers
Matthew
 
Matthew, I haven't looked at any of the catalogues but if you can't find them try Healey Surgeons in Tacoma Park, Md. They are very well supplied with Healey parts.
 
Thanks for all the help everyone. Just ordered four of these from AH Spares. Should solve the problem. It still beats me though.
Cheers
Matthewf6057bf3-dca4-4898-b158-324cb099ebe8-1.jpg
 
Could the reduced lining thickness on the old (worn out?) shoes have changed the relationship between spring and hub? In other words have you had new linings before in your ownership?

Danny
 
Hi Danny
Yes that's possible. Haven't had new linings before but the old ones weren't really worn out. I think you may be right though. Can't think of other reasons. They look like BN1 springs though.
Matthew
 
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