> I installed new brake shoes on my 74 Spitfire last weekend. After removing
> the drums I noted that the DPO had struck again. The upper (top) brake
> springs had been incorrectly installed outboard of the old shoes, a
> condition I of course would correct when I installed the new shoes.
> Approximately 1 1/2 hours later, and after adding several new words to my
> Spitfire lexicon, I also installed the upper springs outboard of the new
> shoes.
>
> I'm curious. Has anyone ever gotten the upper springs installed inboard of
> the shoes? The only way that I can envision to do it is to remove the
> backing plate, cylinder, and adjuster, assemble the shoes, with springs
> inboard and then reinstall everything to the backing plate.
>
> Barry H. Adams
> 74 Spitfire
Yes!!!
It's easy (ish) when you know how but it's kind of difficult to
explain in writing. There is a knack to it. If I remember correctly,
what you do is locate the lower parts of the shoes in their correct
places with the lower spring installed. Then, do NOT locate the top
parts of the shoes. Instead, bring them closer together, pulling them
outboard and together so that you can get the top spring in place
behind with no tension on it. With the spring in place pull one shoe
outwards against the spring tension and locate its top in the slave
cylinder (notch or piston). Now do the same with the other shoe
whilst keeping a hand on the other shoe to prevent it from flying out
of location.
You can now put in the two pins and springs which hold the shoes to
the back plate.
Like I said it's hard to explain and I might have missed a couple of
operations, but that's the essence of it and it should take no more
than 2 mins to do.
Hope this helps,
Jonathan
'77 Spitfire 1500
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Dr J.E.Miles
School of Biological Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham B15 2TT
Great Britain
Tel. 0121-414-5884
Fax. 0121-414-5925
j.e.miles@bham.ac.uk
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