Brilliant!! Exactly where my thought processes were going.
On my BJ8 this problem was particularly prevalent with the rears locking up
far too easily. I thought it was caused by weight transfer to the front
under heavy braking. I discovered soon after that my apparently perfect
Vredestein tyres were abut 10 years old and had the consistency (and grip)
of wood! New Michelin XAS helped, but the over braking of the rears was
still a problem.
Reducing the swept area of the shoes will reduce the efficiency, raise the
temperature, and should give a better pedal feel around the max braking
point. I've never tried it but figured it was worth some research.
Tell me does just 1/8" off the trailing edges really make a noticeable
difference? Would leading edge be more effective by reducing the servo
effect?
Just exploring before I get in there with the hacksaw.
Cheers.
On 19 October 2010 14:18, Chris Dimmock <austin.healey@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Magnus,
> The main reason I've found for rear brakes locking is that most modern rear
> brake shoes are relined across the entire shoe.
> Standard Healey shoes in the era were never relined over the entire metal
> shoe surface. NEVER.
> Hence more rear braking capacity.
> <Snip>
Rear brake shoe lining size adjustment is the way that many race car drivers
have adjusted rear brake bias long before adjustable bias systems came
along. And still do in classes of racing that prevent the adjustment of
things that weren't adjustable.
<Snip>
Conceptually. Just use a hacksaw to cut the lining to reduce the surface
contact area, until the rear brakes no longer lock first. i.e. Just reduce
the lining surface area!!!
<Snip>
The process:
Break really hard like your kid ran out in front of your Healey, IN A SAFE
PLACE - well away from other people/ cars/ children. Full emergency brake.
Just test to see if you have rear lock up.
If you do...
Jack up and cut 1/8 in off both rear linings.
Start at the trailing edge.
Retest. Repeat.
<Snip>
Until it no longer locks at the rear.
<Snip>
It's not rocket surgery. But it is time consuming.
Chris
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