StratfordShark

Well thanks to the good people here I reassembled the parking brake mechanism with new shoes. Was just about to congratulate myself with a beer when I thought I'd try the new rotor.

It won't slip over the new shoes. It's OK on the other (left) side which I've left for reference for now, so I know the new rotor is OK.

I can shift the new shoes slightly as an assembly on the backplate, but haven't found a position where the rotor will fit. Looking at new v old there is a little more space between the ends of shoes and the area just next to the lever mechanism. Have shown this on photos of the old assembly (blue shoes) and the new.

Please does anyone have any tips for getting the new rotor on. it's tantalising to have come this far!

Thanks.

AO

2 things:

1. Is the parking brake lever down? (I know it sounds silly, but I need to ask.)

2. Have you adjusted the adjuster to bring the shoes in as far as possible?

Shark Attack

Also just wondering, why did you replace them? looks like the old ones still had pleanty of meat on them.

the flyin' scotsman

Looks from the 2nd pic that the shoes are not retracted to the stops.

See Andrew's suggestions. If those do not bring the shoes in look to see what else could be holding them in the expanded position.

StratfordShark

Not silly suggestion Andrew, but I realised after posting that I should have made it clear that brake lever is down, and the start adjuster is at minimum length (it's fun moving it now it's all cleaned up and lubricated!).

Thanks for your suggestions.

StratfordShark

Good question! I was surprised they looked so good too. The brake was giving no cause for concern, but I'm replacing all the pads and rotors so I picked up a set of shoes before I knew what the old ones were like - just wanted to do a complete job and save time ordering if they were needed (though I'm not replacing any hoses this time). I didn't see anything in the very complete service record to say if shoes had ever been changed so expected the original shoes to be in worse state.

Could have saved some work given the time I've spent getting it back together (still not together!) but I'm glad I had chance to clean up the star adjuster and simply learn more about the emergency brake.

StratfordShark

Thanks - I'll take a closer look and experiment a bit. Must be something simple preventing the shoes retracting fully. I'll try them just locked to the backplate with no springs and check the fit with lever engaged.

At least I'm getting practice putting it together!

bfellows

Check that the handbrake cable is not fully adjusted under the carpeted cover inside the car under the brake itself as mine was fully adjusted! I did a full brake replacement a few years ago and the only problem that i hit was having to drill and smash the old rotors off due to being seized on with rust!

Definately sounds like an adjustment problem though!

StratfordShark

Hi Bert,

That whas what I looked at first. It wasn't very tight but I loosened the cable further. No difference.

I think it is just that I haven't put the assembly together quite right. The return spring has more of a twist at the shoe than it had originally, and I think this is pushing the shoe away from where it should be.

I'll have another crack in next couple of days and report back if I fix it.

StratfordShark

Just curious Bert - did you try using the 13mm bolts in the holes provided to push the rotors off the hub?

All my rotors have been hard to shift but rather than bashing away with a mallet I've used the set screws on each one and they pop off easily, though some were seized so hard I worried the bolts would make holes in the hub!

I think the 13mm bolts have been my best tool throughout this project (together with breaker bar for shifting caliper bolts).

icsmike

What 928 has shoes? I thought disc's all the way around?

StratfordShark

The parking brake is like an old style drum brake - 2 shoes each side acting on inside of rotor as drum.

icsmike

Ahhh this I did not know...splendid, splendid Taggart.

AO

In the biz , it's called a "drum-in-hat" meaning a drum brake in the hat of the rotor.

StratfordShark

Well I finally found out why the rotor wasn't clearing the shoes.

I built up the assembly again and checked fit at each stage.

All fine till final step when I popped in the star adjuster and spring - after that I couldn't get the rotor on.

But it was OK with the old shoes! I don't think it was down to pad thickness since the thickness was same (if anything the old ones looked to have more material left). The new shoes were not OEM but from a good supplier in the UK - but the shoes were slightly different in design at the end where you put in the star spacer, whereas the old ones allowed the shoes to come a little closer together (the flange the spacer fits onto is a touch prouder of the shoe).

So I've put back the old shoes and have left the other side well alone!

Thanks for all the help. One day I'll finish this brake job...