I was thinking the other day about rear brakes and that they need adjusting fairly often. Has anyone ever fitted different rear drum brakes with self adjusters? Seems a good idea to me.

_________________
Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

Now now... thats just crazy talk. No more red cordial for you. Next thing you know, you'll be wanting an a-series to be reliable...














Self adjusters... It is a good point though.

_________________
[NATHAN] -- Sold everything mini related and am back in big beautiful BMWs

Once bedded in they shouldn't need adjusting often... are the shoes the right size? Maybe your drums are machined oversize, and need + 1/32" bonded shoes from a brake place..

Karcraft etc only sells std size imported brake shoes- I often wonder how many people just chuck 'em in and don't know their drums have been machined. If they do this they will run out of adjustment by the time they bed in.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Doc, I am just planninig the build of my van and it was a thought. I know what rear brakes to use with self adjusters as they have the right stud pattern which would be the biggest hurdle. The 10'' wheels fit on them nicely and the brakes drums themselves are wider. All in all it looks a fairly simple conversion.

_________________
Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

Do tell?

Then you would know as much as I do. I happened to have the back wheels off my Suzuki Wagon R and slipped a mini wheel on it and surprise, it fitted. Two main problems here though, only a 1000 of these vehicles came into the country and are as rare as rocking horse thingo in wreckers yards and I haven't actually measured the backplate to hub face distance. More investigation is needed but if it is viable I will let it be known. I also measured a swift and it has a different PCD on the wheel studs so that is a none starter.

_________________
Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

Doc what do you mean by this? Are you saying that if i get some drums and shoes from karcraft the shoes are the wrong size for the drum??

_________________
If you want more inches, stroke it
Life's a garden.... Dig It!
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20746

Could be. Drums get machined and shoes have to be sized to fit the drum if machining has to be done. The only real way to do it is take your old shoes and drums down to your local brake supplier. They will measure the drums, machine them if necessary and supply shoes that are radius ground to the drums. This is the only way to do it properly and ensures complete shoe to drum contact. ALWAYS fit new wheel cylinders if they have not recently been done.

_________________
Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

No problem if you buy both new drums and shoes...

When drums wear out it is common for brake shops to machine them out bigger to clean up. Std size drum is 7.0", oversizes used by the brake industry are + 1/32" and + 1/16".
Once the drums are machined, they bond new friction material to your old shoes and radius grind them to suit the drums.

My point was- many (most?) Minis out there are running drums that have been machined bigger. Standard size shoes will not fit properly, and once bedded in you will have no adjustment left.
So please- measure the drums before you go buying new shoes.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

ohhh now it makes sense...
thanks doc
I didnt quite understand your first msg there

_________________
If you want more inches, stroke it
Life's a garden.... Dig It!
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20746