1850 rear brake problem

[stevevx52]

Having issues with the rear brake adjustment on my 1850 having fitted new shoes and a new pair of handbrake cables
I appear to only have one of the small H shaped pieces which came off the nearside. Nowhere in the two manuals I have show where/how that piece is fitted and does anyone have a spare H section??

[Richard the old one]

The Alun Nicolas had some made and they are now sold by the club.

I will attached a photo to show where the H piece needs to be fitted.

[stevevx52]

Cheers!!
many thanks all I've to do now is to get the blessed drums off and fit them correctly!!

[Richard the old one]

If you struggle to get the brake drums off you may find when you do get them off the the brake shoes have worn the drums away leaving a raised edge on the inside of the drums. If this is the case you need to grind the lip away so that it will be easier to get the brake drums on and off in future. It also helps when it comes to adjusting the brakes by turning the adjusters by hand as it is very common that the auto adjustment does not work. To do this you will find that there is a need to replace the drums, operate the brake pedal to centralise the shoes and the take the drums off again and then adjust again until you can just get the drums on.

[stevevx52]

Hi Richard having obtained a new pair from the club shop I proceeded to fit them only to find that that they fell out and became chewed up in the backplate.
I was with my 1850 in Herefordshire over the weekend taking part in the annual " Daffodil Run" organised by the HRCR
In speaking with Paul Loveridge(HRCR Chairman) he recalled they were held in by a small clip that hung from the brake shoe.
How are yours kept in place please?, as I had the wheels and drums off twice during the event to reset and eventually remove them. By refitting the drums with the shoes expanded by hand just to the point of being able to get them on I was just able to hold the car on a slope with the handbrake. With 120 mile trip back home it was an essential.
Steve

[Richard the old one]

There are no clips to hold them in and if fitted correctly I cant see how they can come out. Please take another look at the following photo

[stevevx52]

Many thanks for this photo it is very helpful as I had nothing to go by, as they were missing from my car and the handbrake was not holding the car. Thus I started by replacing both handbrake cables, only to find they made little difference. Why there's no reference to them in either of the two workshop manuals I have is frustrating

[Richard the old one]

I did find when I replaced the handbrake cables on one of my cars that the cables were too long and I had to reduce the length of the adjustment thread because the end was hitting the clevis pin.

If you do not remove all the slack from the cables the handbrake will come up too far (too many clicks) but you need to make certain that the brakes are being released. I will include a photo to show where the adjustment screw had to be reduced in length.

[stevevx52]

Hi Richard I've now fitted the H pieces successfully and agree with you that the new handbrake cables need to be shortened at the adjuster on both sides.
Over the years I've owned and restored a number of cars from a Morris 1000, 1250 Herald, two Mk1 Cortina GT's and an MGBGT but this Dolomite is certainly proving to be a challenge!!
Steve

[Richard the old one]

Hi Steve.

I am glad you have sorted the problem and that you have up dated us.

I only know my way around 1500 Dolomites because we purchased our first one in 1977 and the family has driven the seven 1500 Dolomites we have owned over the years at least 546,000miles.

I currently have four.

Richard