Just Failed MOT''rear drums''HELP

16th May 2008, 18:46

Hi, I just failed my fisrts ever MOT on my saxo
I have a problem as my Brakes ''rear drum'' are poor, but there not!!!! you just have to push alittle harder than other cars i think
Anyway how can I make my pedal tighter?
I've fitted in the last 3 months new rear calipers and pads and stops fine but you need to push on pedal quite as the first 30% of push does nothing then it kicks in?
Anyone know how to tighten it?

IF ANYONE BE MOST KIND TO HELP

17th May 2008, 14:35

you have said that its failed on your rear drums, then said 3 months ago you fitted new rear calipers and pads? so does your car have pads and discs or drums??

if you have a poor brake pedal its more than likely that you didnt bleed them out properly when you fitted the pads etc!! id give the brakes a good bleed and service the rears if there drums. clean them off with brake cleaner, check your cyliners are okay and if all is well adjust them up and re fit!

17th May 2008, 14:36

if your not very mechanical dont attempt it your self. brakes are one thing you dont want to get wrong imo

18th May 2008, 19:18

hi, yes i think it may be my adjusters as i dont really know what they do, but i do know that i had to put them to near minimum to fit the drum back on after fitting new pads, it just wouldn't go on without that, but now they have had a few months maybe the adjusters can be brought out abit to improve the back brakes/service brake? i hope?

do the adjusters just take up the slack?
or do they have two purposes?

anyone have any ideas, cheers will rep for an answer

18th May 2008, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisWoolfenden

hi, yes i think it may be my adjusters as i dont really know what they do, but i do know that i had to put them to near minimum to fit the drum back on after fitting new pads, it just wouldn't go on without that, but now they have had a few months maybe the adjusters can be brought out abit to improve the back brakes/service brake? i hope?

do the adjusters just take up the slack?
or do they have two purposes?

anyone have any ideas, cheers will rep for an answer

ok in motor trade pads are in brakes with discs and calipers.
with drum brakes you have the drum,shoes and the 'caliper' is called pistons.

the drums should have an automatic adjuster,this just takes up the 'slack' as the shoes wear.

did it fail on the handbrake part or the foot brake part?

it its the handbrake then count how many clicks the handbrake goes up by,shouldnt be more then 5.
if its more you need to re-adjust the handbrake tension on the cable which is under the car.
if it was the foot brake part then its probably inbalanced left/right so this could be caused by seized piston,worn shoes,[remember you have the trailing and leading ones],could try re-bleeding the brakes,could be a weeping piston,could even be brake biasing valve.

18th May 2008, 21:31

would also clean and lube the auto adjuster as they tend to get clogged up with brake dust

18th May 2008, 22:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasscen

would also clean and lube the auto adjuster as they tend to get clogged up with brake dust

yes especially if its seized

20th May 2008, 15:11

A strip and clean with proper brake cleaner normally does the job. It may me worth replacing the rear brake shoes anyway though depending on how worn they are ,as you will need to take off the drum anyway.

A set of brake shoes cost about £15 from GSF.

The handbrake cable can be adjusted from the underside of the car, you will need to remove the centre exhaust heat sheild to get to it, over than that no adjustments can be made as the shoes are self adjusting.