Spitfire spitfire rear brakes

[ScottFromNH]

Hi guys,

I have a stupid question. I am changing the rear brakes on my 1973 spitfire and I am trying to figure out if their is a trick on putting the springs on the new shoes? I have the repair manual and read it but it doesn't really help. It is getting the best of me as the spring on the old shoes are behind the shoes in between the backer plate and the shoes? Any help would be awesome...

 

[Andrew Mace]

I don't know if I can adequately describe the way I've been doing it for the past 40+ years, but I'll try. I assemble the shoes and springs in my hands and hold the shoes just "taut" to keep the springs in place. I then work one spring then the other behind the hub and try my best to get one shoe on both the wheel cylinder and adjuster, then I just pull on the other shoe to get it in place on the other side of the wheel cylinder and adjuster. Sometimes it takes a try or two, but I usually succeed.

Does that make any sense?

Granted, in years past I was often kidded for having "Vice Grip" fingers, but it really doesn't take Herculean strength to do it the way I do.

 

[ScottFromNH]

Hey Andrew,

Thanks for the tip and yes that makes perfect sense and will give that a try tomorrow after work.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Good luck!

 

[ScottFromNH]

Hey Andrew,

Just wanted to Thanks you for the tip. It worked great. Last night it took me about 25 minutes to get the drive side brake installed.

Scott

 

[Andrew Mace]

Hey Andrew,

Just wanted to Thanks you for the tip. It worked great. Last night it took me about 25 minutes to get the drive side brake installed.

Scott

:banana:

Glad it worked for you, as it's always worked for me!