Rear brakes

[frostythor]

I have a 1967 Morris minor 1000, I am currantly rebuilding the rear axle, during reasembly of the brake shoes I noticed my back plates have the attachement for the brakes shoe retaining springs, but I dont have any shoe spring I have seen severl ilistration showing rear brakes with and with out the shoe retaining spring so the queation is do I need to buy a set and put them on,

item 44 in the photo thanks

1cc1c26cb1d74e80207bb2f89b5b4297.gif (75.53 KiB) Viewed 1774 times

[paul 300358]

I have them fitted but many don't. Have a search for bee hive springs

[myoldjalopy]

There is a school of thought that says the bee-hive springs should be fitted - although they can be a bit of a fiddle. As Paul says above, many don't have them fitted and that includes me.......I have never had any issues because of it.

[philipkearney]

I think these are what you are after. https://www.morrisminorspares.com/brake ... de-p829516

Like others, I don't think many of my cars have them. I'll refit them if they are there, but they do seem to work fine without the springs.

[simmitc]

They were fitted for a reason. If the factory had been able to save a few pennies by getting rid of the springs (and the labour to fit them) then they would certainly have done so, but the beehive springs were retained right through until the last car left the assembly line. One has to ask why that was the case if the springs were not needed.

Not fitting the springs is not a critical omission, the car will remain drivable and safe, but there might be an unusual wear pattern on the shoes.

[geoberni]

Every car I've had with drum brakes has used a retaining spring of some sort on the rear shoes to keep them against the back plate. Many have also used them on the front. Across many manufacturers, Ford, Vauxhall and foreign (Japanese) brands.
The Minor is the only ones I've encountered with the beehives, most have been a variant of these:

These are Ford brakes

fitting kit.JPG (45.4 KiB) Viewed 1733 times

These are VW/AUDI

AUDI.JPG (22.66 KiB) Viewed 1733 times

Minor Era Datsun.....

datsun.JPG (67.21 KiB) Viewed 1733 times

It seems that people leave the beehives off because they are a bit of a faff to fit, and they are, but designers of all manner of brakes around the world for many decades felt such devices are required, so I'm not going to leave them out of the brakes.
Imagine having your vehicle inspected after smash and being told your brakes were incorrectly assembled so they're not paying out, or perhaps a more serious outcome....

[serowman]

In my toolbox I have a special tool for fitting these springs(simples)

[les]

Yes, it’s a pair of pointed long nosed pliers.

[frostythor]

Hi All, I have them ready to be ordered, it was just half the photos I have seen dont have them in but the manual for a 1967 does, any way thanks for all your input, and yes I will be fitting them, as per the manual

[oliver90owner]

Hi All, I have them ready to be ordered, it was just half the photos I have seen dont have them in but the manual for a 1967 does, any way thanks for all your input, and yes I will be fitting them, as per the manual

Either those photos are there to illustrate something else - so the springs are not needed to be in the picture, for clarity or order of operations - or the photos/repairs were made by dummies.

The springs are there to positively maintain the geometry between the shoe friction material and the brake drum. Clearly the OEMs found them necessary, I expect both, for continued brake efficiency and for longevity of service life - of both shoes and drums.

[frostythor]

oliver90owner, I agree with you, just waitrung for my delivery

[serowman]

Not long nose pliers,a special tool I think from Sykes-Pickavant

[les]

Interesting, any pictures if possible ? Sykes make some good service items.

[don58van]

I can't remember where I saw it... but I have seen a tool made from an old straight-blade screwdriver. All that is required is a notch filed or ground into the centre of the tip. The notch is used to engage the hook of the spring and push it into position.

Don

[les]

Yes you’re right. I’ve seen the same.

[don58van]

See here:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=66753&p=630123&hili ... er#p630123

Don