Series 3 brakes (I think)

Hi folks, could do with a bit of advice.
My '74 s3, every so often it feels as though the brakes or something are dragging a touch when moving slowly e.g., manouvering or parking. The brakes have been rebuilt and bled, I think there's still a very small amount of air in the system but I can't see why that would make any difference to this issue. They allways work well enough, I mean they lock all 4 wheels fairly uniformly if I stamp on the pedal. I've allways put this dragging feeling down to brakes, but I can never find any other symptoms, such as hot drums. Again this issue only presents itself at slow speed And even then, only on occasion, anybody got any clues? It's winding me up something chronic. The only idea I can come up with is that it's directional? Could the brakes be biting a bit when I reverse? I've never really thought to remember which direction I've been going when it comes up.

I'd be inclined to check the handbrake. The shoes on my S3 stuck on if rain even threatened to come out in a week or two maybe ...

I'd also have a look at the props, UJ's might be 'wrong', out of line, and binding a tad.

Paul D said:

I'd be inclined to check the handbrake. The shoes on my S3 stuck on if rain even threatened to come out in a week or two maybe ...

I'd also have a look at the props, UJ's might be 'wrong', out of line, and binding a tad.

Click to expand...

Admittedly I haven't had the handbrake apart, but it's allways worked so I havent dared fiddle maybe that will be the next job on the list, the props are standard, but I they are a bit worn, thanks for the pointers though.

I've read of incorrectly fitted shoes binding in reverse. Not sure if that's full on lock up or just gently bind, but if it is only happening in reverse, might be worth looking at. Its really easy to fit the shoes and/or springs in in the wrong way.

When you find out what the problem is, let us know.

Some shoes Mintex in particular have square ends when they should be chamfered. This is more a problem in reverse but it can cause the shoes to catch slightly. Not really a problem in the grand scheme of things as it will eventually wear and get better as they bed in and chamfer themselves naturally.

Also when stood in wet weather my series brakes tend to be a bit sticky.

Well, thank you everyone for the advice, for now though it seems to have sorted itself? Brakes are working a great, I wonder if somehow a bit of crap managed to find it's way into something I'll probably be changing the brakes soon anyhow, do I'll have a proper look then.

Moved

As the rear trailing shoe has no spring to pull it off you can get what is called self servo effect . The top edge of the rear shoe lining is in contact with the drum and when you reverse the shoe is pushed harder against the drum by the drum. As said increase the chamfer on the top edge also check the outer edges are not rubbing on the side of the drum some times linings are too wide.