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Rear brakes

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TR4

TR4

Jedi Knight
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I am having a problem with the rear brakes on my TR4. I adjust them so the wheels spin freely but after about 200 miles of city driving, they start rubbing and the drums are getting very hot. I can adjust them again one click and the wheels again spin freely. Would the most likely suspect be the adjusters or could it be the wheel cylinders?
 
When I had exactly that problem with my TR3A, it turned out to be the flexible brake line between the body and rear axle. It was broken internally, didn't leak, but a flap of material was acting like a check valve and holding pressure in the rear system.

I doubt the adjusters could be the problem, IMO it has to be either the cylinder binding against the back plate (which would keep one shoe dragging after application), or something keeping the slave from retracting (like my flex line).
 
Thanks Randall, I would not have suspected the flexible line. An easy replacement to see if that corrects the issue. It makes sense since both brakes are binding. I believe I even have a new one in my spare parts drawer. If that does not fix it, on to the wheel cylinders.
 
Also if the inside of the line has started to perrish it can swell internaly and the pressure of applying the brakes is enough to get past the sewlling but the the "return" is not under the same pressure so it does not flow back. In effect it makes a one way check valve.

I had the same thing on my TR3 clutch line. In that case the effect was more interesting in that I could just take my foot off the clutch and the "valve" released the pressure on the clutch "automaticaly" and slowly (too slow) enough to let the car start. It was "cute" the first two or three times but a pain after that.
 
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