Rear brakes

[ronnie]

Any tips on how to reattach the small spring that holds the rear shoes against the back plate
Thanks Ronnie

[kevin s]

I have a pair of pliers I cut a slot in jaws of something like 30 years ago, the slot grips the cap then just push it on and twist (sometimes have to hold the nail from behind), works a treat.

[ronnie]

Thanks will have another go ,, hopefully without cracking up

[kennatt]

On ser 11 (Don't know about later minors but think they are the same) rear retainers are the beehive type with a hook to line up to and slip under a loop,and are a pain to fit. Many just leave them off ,the return springs hold the shoes hard up against the back plate .Having said that I did have one shoe on my old ser11 that persisted in tipping away from the back plate and causing the lining to wear on one side so I drilled a small hole through the back plate in line with the hole on the shoe and fitted the pin spring and cap retainer type.

[kevin s]

Our 1969 car had the pin and cap type ones but it could have been modified as you describe.