Last week I backed the car out of the garage down the gradual slope to the centre of the "T" of our cul de sac when the back axle locks solid on application of the brakes and will not release - this was preceeded by a slight clicking noise from the back axle area. Try as I might trying to pull it forward under power, smelling clutch at the first and only attempt so shut her down and start thinking as rain is threatening and I'm blocking the whole close off. I have the car 8Mtrs from the garage now so I can only think to take a rapid trip to Dartmouth hire shop where on the floor as I walk in I spot one of these (they are used to move pianos etc)



and ask do they have another one, yes they do so for £12 for 24hr hire I head back home. As it is a Plus 8 it has a limited slip diff so both wheels have to be suspended. So lift up the rear and place a dolly under each rear wheel whilst choking the front wheels. Grab the good lady and my neighbour (ex marine) for a little uphill struggle into the garage with herself leaning in the drivers side and steering (7" rims) and pushing and us two grunting at the rear, we make it in the garage as rain starts.
On strip down after 2 hours of hitting the nearside rear drum with a two and a half pound lump hammer with a bolster on it's edge to ease the rear drum off, all is revealed one of the cup spring washers on the lead shoe has let go as the centre has become fatigued and the "cross" has all but disappeared as below lower a phone picture only. This caused the shoe to attempt to go diagonal locking everything up solid.



I was just very lucky this happened at home and not Ascot this coming weekend at Red Bull Air Race I kept reminding myself.
So when checking your rear brakes give these a good check or like me replace them my nearby MOTing garage in Totnes gave me a set for free.


2009 4/4 Sport Henrietta
1999 Indigo Blue +8
2009 4/4 Sport Green prev
1993 Con Green +8 prev