Freelander rear brake disc - won't fit back

Hello, need some advise. Hope you guys can help.

The problem:

My hand brake cable has snapped on the rh side. Now all I've done is having a look what I need, so took wheel and brake disc off. Saw cable snapped, pulled it out and took the broken end from the brake shoes. Now I just want to put back, because I first need to source the cable and that can take a wile.

Problem : Disc doesn't fit back. The shoes have expanded (yes tested the brake to see if everything works) but apparently not fully retracted. Anything I try will not work. Any tricks to get this solved ?

Yes its a '99 - 50th anniversary FL and everything is a bit corroded, but I've had it off before and put it back no probs.

Any help welcome.

Many thanks,


FD

You will need to move the auto adjuster back to allow the brake shoes to retract and give space to fit the drum back on. The adjuster is on the flat bar that runs between the top of the shoes, you will see a cam on the end of it, this needs to be turned to allow the shoes to retract, if its seized (likely) you will need to remove the shoes and adjuster and free it.

Do the cylinder pistons move freely?

you have probably moved the shoes so they are not round, try to centre them ,pistons etc before replacing drum.

Thanks guys,

I did fiddle a lot with the shoes to make them "round" and depressed the cylinder as far to leave a gap between it and the shoes. But shoes stay where they are.

I did notice the cam and tried to turn it, but was careful not to damage anything. Now you have mentioned it I'll focus on that. Can I move/turn it without taking a spring off ? Can I expand the shoes in order to turn the cam back ? Or just hit the brake pedal and then it come free ?

FD

ps. Think Mantamad said I'll have to remove the shoes to adjust it.

FlyingDutchman said:

Thanks guys,

I did fiddle a lot with the shoes to make them "round" and depressed the cylinder as far to leave a gap between it and the shoes. But shoes stay where they are.

I did notice the cam and tried to turn it, but was careful not to damage anything. Now you have mentioned it I'll focus on that. Can I move/turn it without taking a spring off ? Can I expand the shoes in order to turn the cam back ? Or just hit the brake pedal and then it come free ?

FD

ps. Think Mantamad said I'll have to remove the shoes to adjust it.

Click to expand...

Just a thought but have you released the handbrake adjuster fully off?

Yes, thanks, the handbrake cable was broken and I pulled it out. No cable left on that side anymore.

Probably needs all the brake bits dismantled, freed off and rebuilt. Do one side at a time so you have a reference from the other side when you forget which spring goes where! (Remember it's the other way around at the other side.) Does the handbrake arm move on it's pivot? Check that as well as the adjuster. Even though the cable is off the brake could still be set. Don't push the brake pedal with the drum removed otherwise you'll pop the pistons out of the cylinder when you maybe don't have to. How worn are the shoes? Should have a minimum of 2-3 mm of material. That or less - replace.

Top advice, spot on guys ! :clap2:

With the advice of having to take shoes out, I decided to fix the hand brake cable right away.

Took the shoes off, cleaned it out, fitted the hand brake cable, adjusted the "auto adjuster" (cam) and everything fitted back nicely.


Thanks.


Reg,

FD

Glad you got it fixed