Topic: rear drum brake return spring removal

[nilsey]

i there a trick to unhooking the drum brake return springs with hand tools? they seem really tight in there and i don't want to damage them.

[vanillagorilla]

You wont hurt em.

You WILL hurt your knuckles.

[traveler]

eye protection, gloves, and needle nose pliers.

~joe

[MCRider]

Turn the cam to where the shoes are at their highest point. There should be no obsatcle in the way at that point to prying the shoes up their pivot posts and the cam at the same time. Use a little lube. Be careful if you are using the shoes over not to touch them or get lube on their surfaces. use fresh disposable gloves.

Then the shoes fall off and the springs do to.

Same on reinstall. Put the springs on the shoes first. Easy. Put the pivot ends of the shoes on the posts, spread the shoes onto the cam, and tap down into place.

[nilsey]

Turn the cam to where the shoes are at their highest point. There should be no obsatcle in the way at that point to prying the shoes up their pivot posts and the cam at the same time. Use a little lube. Be careful if you are using the shoes over not to touch them or get lube on their surfaces. use fresh disposable gloves.

Then the shoes fall off and the springs do to.

Same on reinstall. Put the springs on the shoes first. Easy. Put the pivot ends of the shoes on the posts, spread the shoes onto the cam, and tap down into place.

i wish i had read this last night before i put the shoes on the pivot posts. which brings up another issue -- are they supposed to be easy to slide on and off of those pivot posts? because i had to pry them of and pound the new ones on with a hammer.

[MCRider]

If you just drop them on without spring pressure, they should move freely.

If you put them on my way, with the springs pre-installed, well of course the springs will exert a lot of binding force and you'll have to tap them on.

But back to the first line, without springs, they should move freely. That's how you'd want your brakes to work I assume?  

[nilsey]

If you just drop them on without spring pressure, they should move freely.

If you put them on my way, with the springs pre-installed, well of course the springs will exert a lot of binding force and you'll have to tap them on.

But back to the first line, without springs, they should move freely. That's how you'd want your brakes to work I assume?  

well, they rotate around the post slightly stiffly, i wouldn't say "freely", and they are very hard to get on and off the posts, hence the hammer.

am i in trouble here? do i need a new drum brake?

[MCRider]

If you just drop them on without spring pressure, they should move freely.

If you put them on my way, with the springs pre-installed, well of course the springs will exert a lot of binding force and you'll have to tap them on.

But back to the first line, without springs, they should move freely. That's how you'd want your brakes to work I assume?  

well, they rotate around the post slightly stiffly, i wouldn't say "freely", and they are very hard to get on and off the posts, hence the hammer.

am i in trouble here? do i need a new drum brake?

No can't imagine you need new parts. Hard to get off with the springs off? I don't like that, but...

Well, if its all back togather, and you can actuate the cam and the springs snap the shoes back to position, maybe don't worry about it.

I'd take them off and use some emory paper on the posts and maybe a wire brush in a drill to the inside of the shoes holes till they moved freely. The posts have a little indent in them where a dap of waterproof grease goes. and a dab on the cam where the shoes slide.

[nilsey]

mcrider -- thanks for your help, its appreciated. its all back together and things seem to operate ok.

[MCRider]

mcrider -- thanks for your help, its appreciated. its all back together and things seem to operate ok.

Great, I'd carry on. Too close to riding season!

Trick on reasembly: Wheel in swingarm, hand tighten the axle nut. Then firmly actuate the rear brake, have someone depress the pedal if necessary.  Now finish tightening the axle while holding the brake on.

This will center the brake plate in the drum, and maximize the contact surface of the shoes to the drum. It will work better.

Do it this way after a chain adjustment as well.