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Thread: Snails to Adjustable Rods Series Land Rovers

  1. #1
    Lionelgee is offline YarnMaster Silver Subscriber
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    Snails to Adjustable Rods Series Land Rovers

    Hello All,

    Between the transition from Series III to Series Stage One to County to Defender did the brake snails get replaced with an adjustable rod? If so can these be retrofitted to a Series III without having to replace the brake drum backs? I remember working on my EH Holden and they had a similar adjustment to what is shown in the second photograph. So this is technology from 1963 to 1965. So I am just wondering if the snail system can be replaced with a better option - but still from factory-fitted Land Rover parts? I have only worked on Series 2A and Series III so I have no experience beyond these models.

    My originally fitted 2A snails are all smooth. I did not know they were meant to be notched until the replacement set arrived in a blue box.

    I did try different arrangements of the parts; however, they either remained misaligned or they did not have sufficient grip with the screw-in-system to stay in fixed in place when the adjustment nut was turned. They offered no adjustment at all. I stripped one screw trying to tighten the snail so there was some adjustment. The original snails are a mechanical press fit. In the replacements they rely on a gutless screw to hold the snail in place.

    I have yet to try Colin - Gromit's suggestion of re-filing notches on the original snails.

    P.S. I just visited a British-based Land Rover site and they mentioned the same problems with the kit I bought. They referred to a Paddock's download PDF file about the recommended order of parts fitting. The link is https://paddockspares.com/downloads/...or_RTC3176.pdf

    I checked some other threads and found out that people have welded the replacement snail cams instead of relying on the crappy screw to hold things in place.... go figure!

    Kind regards
    Lionel
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  2. #2
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    Lionel,
    There isn't anything wrong with the std snails if used correctly. The system was used on many British vehicles from the same period.

    Series I, II & III used snails then it wasn't long before Land Rovers switched to discs, I don't think Land Rover ever used adjustable rods.
    You could change to an adjustable rod but it would mean making modifications, if the drum was removed on a roady you might get a fail for altering the brakes.
    If you have the engineering capability then maybe consider changing to adjustable rods but the shoes need to have notches cut into them and you'll need an aperture in the backplate to access the adjuster.

    All 5 of my Series Land Rovers have good snails which is maybe an indication that previous owners (& mechanics) understood how to adjust them properly.

    Firstly, if your snails don't make contact with the pins on the shoes then maybe the shoes are wrong. If they make contact OK then continue.
    Brakes assembled, drums on and wheels fitted.
    Back off the snails with wheel (or wheels off the ground)
    Stand on the brake pedal hard to centralise the shoes.
    Adjust the snails....
    You should be able to 'feel' the notches on the snail when it makes contact with the pin on the shoes DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN !
    Turning the adjuster will become hard when the shoe makes contact with the drum.
    Stand on the brake pedal again and re-try the adjuster.
    Then rotate the wheel, back off the adjuster until the wheel rotates without the shoes dragging in the drum.

    I think one of the problems is that people just reef up the adjuster to try and centralise the shoes, this wears off the notches on the snail.

    As you've found, the originals are riveted in place and the aftermarket ones use a weak bolt plus the snail is as soft as some very soft stuff. Welding would be a good option but the snail is still soft.

    Another solution for you is to find some brakeplates off another axle, otherwise file or use a Dremel to re-cut the notches on your snails.

    Best of luck & Merry Christmas. I'm off to take down the Christmas tree..........

    Colin
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
    '65 Series IIa Dormobile
    '70 SIIa GS
    '76 SIII 88" (Isuzu C240)
    '81 SIII FFR
    '95 Defender Tanami
    '58 Series II (sold)
    Motorcycles :-
    Vincent Rapide, Panther M100, Norton BIG4, Electra & Navigator, Matchless G80C

  3. #3
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    This is an incomplete set that came with a Land Rover I bought in 1994. The quality may have been better in those days. If anybody needs these, or some of these parts send me a PM. Please note, there is a difference between need and want.
    .W.
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  4. #4
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    The threaded rod type is the same as used in my Fergy.

    whitehillbilly

  5. #5
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    It's a very long time since I owned a series but one thing I do remember is the simplicity and reliability of the brake adjusting mechanism. When properly adjusted (as per Colins instructions) they work just fine. The alternate 'rod' type adjusters were more common on vehicles with automatic brake adjusters and IMO comparatively more difficult to fit and adjust correctly, especially when siezed or over tightened. It was always a decision as to which way to move the screwdriver blade when adjusting.

    With the snail system the only problem I had was with oversize (machined) brake drums and normal size or worn brake shoes and running out of snail when adjusting the brakes. I overcame this by placing a small sleeve on the snail pin on the brake shoe which effectively increased the adjustment by the wall thickness of the sleeve.

    I fitted a set of replacement adjusters (as shown in Paddocks link and B.S.F 's picture) and had no problem with them though I did use Loctite on the snail retaining bolts. I think poor adjustment technique by over tightening the shoes using the snails would be the main cause of failure here. I ran these replacement snails on my old S2a for 10 years or so without problem.

    IMO fitting 'rod type' adjusters would not be an improvement to the original.

    Deano
    66 SIIA SWB .......73 SIII LWB diesel wgn
    86 RR 'classic'......99 Range Rover P38a
    94 Defender 110..95 Defender 130 Ute
    96 D1 300TDi.......99 D2 TD5 (current)
    04 D2a Td5..........02 Disco 2 V8

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