Hello to all, I am putting new brake shoes on the front of my mini. Does anyone have any hints on how you get the springs on to the shoes. I am having a heck of a time trying to get them on. Most easy things I can do, but some things I can not do. I have a buddy who is normally pretty good at it, but he is to busy these days. It would be nice to get it done, and get the mini back on the road. Any ideas would be a huge help. CHEERS.

P.S. If I was smart, I should have bought disc brakes instead of other stuff for the mini. Maybe next year.

 

not exactly sure what the problem is - and I have disks up front but am guessing from doing my rears .... you're having problems getting the return springs in place given they 'should' be on the back side?

I ended up putting the springs in place on the bench while holding the shoes apart with my hands then held that pressure while wiggling the shoes in place on the back plate . . .

did that make sense?

 

So you must of had to take off the hub in order to get them in place,because with the hub in place it will not work.

 

I always have to fight the shoe springs when reassembling drum brakes on any vehicle. My advice is to use a pair of vice-grips to clamp on to the straight part of the spring so you can safely pull the spring without fighting for grip. Also, above everything else, i _ALWAYS_ wear safety glasses when working on those things.

hope it helps,
Jeff

 

nope - did not need to pull the hub

 

Thanks for the tips, I did just that capt_bj, and to my surprise it worked. I did have to use vise grips as well, because one of the bottom springs came off. So thanks to both of you. Now the other problem that I ran into was the new studs that I put on the hubs. Some of them are spinning in the hub worn teeth, so I am going to put a tack of weld on the back side to hold them permanently. Everything can not go easy for me. Everything has to fight me ,that is just my luck. CHEERS.

 

Cool, I'm glad you got that sorted. Drum brake shoes can be a PITA. Congrats!

Jeff