Thread: Rear Brakes LWB S3

Yes, they can be replaced and it is a common problem. Brit Parts here in Perth sell a small replacement adjuster kit for each back plate that you fit yourself. I am sure that all the other after market places sell them as well. It's easy, if a bit grubby and greasy, but then it is a Land Rover!

Hi,
Before replacing the snail cams have a good look at the way the shoes are fitted. Even in the latest Workshop Manuals there is no mention of the correct fitting of the shoes to the backing plates. It is a Girling system and there are FRONT shoes and REAR shoes. If you assemble even one incorrectly you will - 1.- Have a long pedal. 2. - Poor or almost no barkes in reverse or trying to hold on a steep hill. A similar situation applies if the backing plates are assembled on the wrong sides. So how do you get it right? Take off the shoes and look at the position of the adjuster posts and if they are worn. Each side should have a PAIR of shoes - the pair should be different ie the position of the adjuster posts are closer and further from the inner edge of the web. The FRONT shoe should be about 15mm and the rear shoe should be about 20mm -its pretty obvious when pointed out. If this is not the case you may have two of the same on each side or three of one type and one of the other or they were on the backing plate the wrong way - all sorts of combinations that equal poor brakes. On both sides the forward side of the backing plate (to Front of vehicle) takes the FRONT shoe (the leading shoe - the 15mm one) and the rearmost side of the backing plate takes the TRAILING shoe (the 20mm one). If relined correctly the linings are also at different positions on the shoe web - the FRONT SHOE has a longer unlined section at the TOP of the shoe and a shorter unlined section at the bottom of the shoe so that it appears to be displaced on the shoes in the forward direction of rotation. On the REAR SHOE the displacement is not as obvious. New shoes or linings always take a bit of driving to bed in. Pedal Effort should be 50lb with a 2.5" pedal travel and 100lb should be 3" (these pressures are with the early Type 38 Supervac fitted. I can't tell you what it would be with the boosted tandem master cylinder without a bit more digging around. If the adjuster posts are worn they can be built up and filed round.
Incredibly none of this is in any Manual I have and most so called brake experts have no idea about it as well - usually coming up with "lousy Land Rover brakes" as their excuse.
Bob

Thanks heaps for that bobslandies,
I do have a lot less braking in reverse on mine (very interesting if i dont let the vacuume accumulator build up before i back out down the driveway ), so chances are the shoes may be incorectly fitted. Well i have a set or rear brake shoes waiting to be fiited so i will get a set of new snail cams and fit them during the weekend, will be a good time to clean up and paint the backing plates as well i guess .

Cheers
Paul