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