Bearmach brake shoes

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.

A.J.M

Active Member
Posts
244
Swapping over the brake shoes on the S3 axels on my car.
Old shoes are of unknown age, lots of fibres and debris in behind the drums etc.

when fitting the new Bearmach stuff, I’m having to file/grind away a fair bit of the top locating tabs that go into the cylinder to make them fit under the drums.

Anyone else suffering from this issue?
Seems very strange as old stuff fits perfectly but this doesn’t fit without a lot of work.
 
Here is one of the rear old shoes.
With a front shoe not yet fitted.
 

Attachments

  • 41BBF9B6-EB55-41FA-AD94-0445694B3AB8.jpeg
    41BBF9B6-EB55-41FA-AD94-0445694B3AB8.jpeg
    344.8 KB · Views: 158
Yup. Backing them off fully.

following the ROM I’ve got for it but these shoes need a bit of tweaking to get on.
 
I have had ongoing probs like yours.
I file down the braking material...usual just the part of the shoe that show contact marks with the drum.
Have to go back a bit sometimes...crap aren't they.
 
Had another attempt at this.

Edges chamfered, piston backed in fully, adjuster in and still having same issue.

Rather amusingly, if I refit one of the drum screws, the drum locks solid.
But can spin if the screw is not fitted.

Im guessing parts aren’t brilliant then.
Is there a better quality parts for front and back 88” pre 81 axels?
 
that is exactly the same as what mine was doing pre filing,i am going to replace the drums as well,
best of luck
ryn
 
Try locating the drum so it lines up with a different screw hole choice of three. Remarkably it makes a difference I am lead to
believe never had this problem myself
 
Both back corners have this issue with needing work and the locking solid with a screw fitted.

that can’t be right for parts to cause so much issue.
The old stuff doesn’t cause any issues.

Is there a better brand to try as I’ve got the NC500 next year and don’t want to be chancing it with brakes.
 
I think the dia of the shoes and drums don't match.
When I sort of got mine working...and had a look at the shoes to see where they were contacting the shoes...it was in a small area at the piston ends of the shoes....would have taken forever to bed in...if at all.
To make the shoe sit a tad higher as well as filing down the piston end of the friction material I needed to cut a strip of metal around 1mm thick I think I the width of the round shoe anchor shoe slot to lift the shoe nearer the drum.
Cock up but what can you do...they work ok now.
 
Both back corners have this issue with needing work and the locking solid with a screw fitted.

that can’t be right for parts to cause so much issue.
The old stuff doesn’t cause any issues.

Is there a better brand to try as I’ve got the NC500 next year and don’t want to be chancing it with brakes.

I bought Mintex thinking they would be safe. I don't have the same problem as you but on one corner they bind really badly but only when going backwards. Mines only mid way through restoration so not crucial yet but I wasn't very chuffed when I couldn't roll it back into the garage one day. The shoes have been removed from that side at the moment.
 
Have found a local company that can reline the old shoes.

going to speak to them as the old stuff fits perfectly fine so my thinking is with new linings on the shoes they should fit with no issues.
 
Back
Top