2021, 15th May FHC Handbrake

 FHC Axle Brake Rebuild and Swap

In a previous post I mentioned that I have never been happy with the FHC handbrake so have been pondering the best way to deal with it.  Don't think I have ever mentioned that the axle also has a little bit of a whine when cruising at say 60-70mph so I decided a way forward would be to rebuild the spare axle that had originally been in the cat when I got it and swap them over.

First job was to drag it out from the back of the garage and strip off the old brakes.  The drums looked very good and the brake shoes even turned out to be real Lockheed/Don ones.  

Before stripping, looks pretty good

First job after stripping was to re-drill the back plates to take the new TR8 wheel cylinders. These are larger internal diameter than TR7 ones so give more rear braking to match with the uprated front brakes. The TR7 and TR8 cylinders appear identical externally and both have a roll-pin to locate them in the backplate but it is on opposite sides, presumably to prevent the wrong ones being fitted by mistake. 

New Hole Drilled in Backplate

The new cylinders went on first and they are retained by an evil circlip. These can be a real pain to fit and have a habit of flying off into the most distant corner of the garage when you are trying to get them on. I have a special tool which uses a taper to open them up as you tighten a nut. It did work but it turned out the circlips are harder than the tool as you can see from the grooves it left on the taper!

Use a pair of grips to hold cylinder

Special tool to push circlip on

Circlip in position

Circlip has damaged the taper!

With the cylinders in place next job was to make up and fit the new brake pipes which is always a nice little job I enjoy doing but always struggle to get them as neat and straight as I would like.

New brake pipes on.

I had bought a new set of automatic(!) adjusters and levers so these went on as well before fitting the shoes and springs.  Last item is the brake shoe hold back springs with their little top-hat shaped cups that you have to push on and turn at the same time. A pair of pliers or a flat bladed screwdriver is generally used but it turns out there is a proper special tool for putting these on and I had been given one by a fellow 143 Motor Club member who was having a garage clear out.

Girling brake spring tool

and the retaining spring in place.

 

All ready for the brake drum

Last were the rubber boots that seal around the handbrake levers. These are some British made ones that are guaranteed for two years so will hopefully last a bit longer than the usual couple of months previous ones did.

Rubber gaiters - but will they last?

And the axle ready to go into the car.