Thread: Brake Question

Yes, the leading shoe is the one that is "opened" by the rotation of the wheel (travelling forwards). So with the fixed end of the shoe at 6 o'clock, the leading shoe is the one at the front of the vehicle, and it's the one on which the adjuster is applied.

If your photos' don't show it too well, the leading shoe is the one with a post on it, and the pull-off spring runs from that post, BEHIND and below the adjuster cam to a post on the backplate (NOT the other shoe!!). The long end of the spring connects to the post on the shoe, the short end to the post on the backplate. Be careful not to get the spring jammed up on the snail cam!

A small (!) amount of Copperslip on the shoe pivots, spring attachments, support posts etc. is beneficial. Disc brake grease can also be used, but not ordinary grease. Lubricating inside the ends of the slave cylinder with the correct rubber-safe brake grease (designed for the purpose) can stop or slow the onset of rust in the bores.