rear brake drum wont go back on!?

[Jazwood]

Hi ya, may sound silly but I've put on a new rear cylinder and brake shoes on my mk1 and I cant get the hub/drum back on the bl***er
I've checked the pistons are moving all the way back and the adjuster bottom centre is not pushing out. Tried for a couple of hours t'other day and missed me free retest ?
Am i missing somink? not too sure how the handbrake works in the drum but I slackened it off at the adjuster in the centre of the van.
Could it be the shoes are too thick or me thats too thick.....

[Steve4x4]

Hi Jazwood

The only thing I thought of was the handbrake. You could disconnect it completely and try.
I can only suggest that you check everything against the old parts (If you haven't already) although if the shoe material was too thick you wouldn't be able to tell.
Don't know if anyone else can help, by the way is it a single or twin wheel van ? There may be a particular trick on one sort, sorry I can't help more.

[BigMac]

hi mate make sure the brake shoues are lined up if one is out of line the drum wont go back on

[rover]

I would check the handbrake first like Steve says, the cable gets adjusted cos people are too lazy to take the drums off and do them properly, I've even seen garages do it!

If that fails then take the cylinder back off and compress both the new one and the old one together, its poss that your supplier(if it wasnt Ford) have given you a Mini front cylinder, there were two different sizes and one of them was too big for the Transit, they look identicle untill you push the pistins back, then you find that one set does not retract as far..


Rover.

[Jazwood]

Thanks for the advice i'll give it a try tomorrow - could be the cyliner as it was'nt a ford supply but as you say, it looks just the same.
Cheers

[chrisuk]

Those brake shoes arnt oversized are they, if so then it can cause a problem, ridge on drum outer can hinder assembly too, as a rule I always grind down that ridge as it prevents brake dust from departing and causes brake squel and fade