HI all, Rear brakes are pretty shot and will need changing. Just not familiar with these drums, how easy are they to change and what should I change? do I need special tools at all? Where do people get theirs?
Cylinders, flexis and shoes, get new springs as well. Clean them all up and make sure the adjusters are free
As the guys have said, get new shoes with fitting kits, i would get new drums as well. Wheel cyclinders are cheap so may as well do them too. Adjusters should free off easy enough, if they are still in good nick, a good grease ( with brake type grease) will be ok. Be aware of the dust that will be in the drum, mask and surgical gloves will be advisable.
Maybe just need adjusting then, flat screwdriver through the holes on bottom rear of backplate, flick the wheel up or down to adjust
Take them apart one side at a time and take pics at each stage for reasemmbly refference You dont know what needs replacing and what doesent untill they are apart Where are you located?
The rear brakes are the most neglected mechanical part on a bus You could need to overhaul everything or someone might of been there before you and done half a job
If it's just an advisory then it won't be anything major - or it would have failed. Probably just the linings at the minimum thickness. So take wheels and drums off and have look first - maybe just new shoes needed or if you are lucky maybe just rubbing the glaze off the surface with wetand dry - which is what I always do before taking for MOT. When you have inspected them and judged if shoe linings are thin then order new ones and you can fit new springs if you wish - but no need if they look straight and rust free. Give the drums a rub down inside with fine emery/ wet and dry to remove glaze too and wire brush outside and back plate to get rid of flaking. Paint/ rust. If cylinders are not leaking,or seized - they should be OK or they would fail MOT , then just a removal of dust is all that's needed .
Poor braking effort, I bet was the advisory. Check and adjust. They wouldn't be able to tell from an mot if the linings were low
You mean when the handbrake is on the bus can still move? Still sounds like they just need adjusting. Take half hour to an hour taking the rear wheels and drums off to inspect them. If needed, a couple of turns on the adjuster stars and you're good to go again Believe me, I've been there and done that. Buying new stuff when the old stuff is fine! Just ask @zed!
if you pull it out enough it seem to hold but ive noticed if its not pulled all the way it does move.
That is your warning that the rear shoes need adjusting. Do not adjust the handbrake cables, adjust the shoes and the handbrake will adjust with them. If you adjust the handbrake first you'll never get the shoes right and will end up slacking the cables off and starting again.