KITTEN REAR BRAKES
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The following article was submitted by
ALAN OSBORN ; www.aoservices.co.uk
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KITTEN REAR BRAKES ;
Written Article about Kitten brakes submitted by Alan Osborn
Rear brake shoe fitment
If you don't take note the fitting of rear shoes can be done wrong.
There are several funny holes/slots in the shoes and of course you have
two dissimilar springs, all done to confuse!
First the springs - the one with two coils goes next to the slave cylinder, the one with the long
coil goes next to the adjuster. They don't need replacing every set of
new shoes but if there is any doubt ie second hand car or you can't
remember, then new ones are recommended.
Now the shoes them selves. I trust you all chamfer back the sharp
leading edge. But which is the leading edge? This the end of the shoe
that does NOT go right to the end of the metal. This is always the
leading edge of the shoe. Now the leading edge is just that, it faces
the direction of rotation see diagram.
So what happens if you get it wrong?
You get an inefficient brake which I am sure you would be able
to see on the MOT test, but in practice on the road it doesn't seem to
make much difference. If it is wrong either both or just one shoe fitted
wrong then you can see it in as much as the shoe is not touching on its
full surface ie one shiny bit, one unworn bit.
Old shoes miss fitted for a long time or old shoes just been put in wrong do not
readily show two different areas, one that is touching, one that is
not. But if you fit some new shoes or some that have recently had their
surface filed to remove glazing you will readily see the non contact
area if the shoe is in wrong. I recommend refile the shiny bit off and
fit them right.
While going on about rear brakes there is two types of drums, one with a
chamfer on the outside corner one without. The later is in fact a front
brake drum ie all four are the same. The later situation is the newer
cars! (I would guess late 70s, I expect someone will know.) So
the chamfered ones are the early ones. But they must be used with the
spacer (like a horse shoe) between the brake plate and the axle. Reason
for this is the brake plate has a skirt that fits near the drum to help
keep water out. Without the spacer these old drums would rub on this
water skirt. So if you have some front drums you want to use on the rear
make sure these spacers are taken out. If for any reason you get this
wrong then the drum would fit in a fresh place on the shoes, which might
impair breaking ability, as of course the drums get worn to their set of
shoes over the years/miles.
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KITTEN REAR BRAKE ; DRIVERS SIDE ;
showing ROTATION and CORRECT POSITION OF BRAKE SHOES ;
{ Later ROBIN models have the brake plate positioned 90 degrees in relation to KITTEN }
Picture supplied by Alan Osborn .
Click on picture to enlarge
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KITTEN REAR BRAKE ; PASSENGER SIDE ;
showing ROTATION and CORRECT POSITION OF BRAKE SHOES and LOCATION of SHOE SPRINGS .
{ On the later ROBIN models the brake plate is positioned 90 degrees to above pic } ;
Picture supplied by Alan Osborn
Click on picture to enlarge