More series III brake issues...

Is it normal for the trailing shoe on SWB series 3 brakes not to be under as much tension from the return spring as the leading shoe? I assume it is sort of normal because the trailing shoe is only held by one spring, but I've just put on new cylinders and the trailing shoe doesn't even have enough tension to push in the piston (even with no pressure in the pipes).

It's pretty hard to describe so I'm sorry if this sounds like jibberish. I might see if I can put a couple of pictures up to make it easier.

Cheers.

Here's a pic of what I'm on about. It's pretty crap quality but you get the idea. As you can see the rear shoe (on the right) is not pushing the piston in at all.

I've just thought maybe I'm being a bit of an idiot though, and that when I've properly bled the brakes etc there'll be a vacuum inside so the piston will be pulled back in when the brake pedal is released.

Have you backed the adjusters off? If not that may stop the shoe from returning all the way

The rubber covers push the pistons out. The trailing shoe only has the bottom spring to return it. Once it's full of fluid and bled it should be ok. Chamfer the ends of the shoes to stop them binding.

Yeah I've already had to sand the shoe linings down loads to fit the drums over the top. Pretty depressing grinding years of life off a new set of brakes...
The adjusters are fully backed off by the way.

Anyway, cheers guys, hopefully it'll turn out fine.