Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Rear Brake Shoes

I had the rear wheels off yesterday having a good clean (got nothing else to do) I thought I’d remove the rear brake drums and give them all a good clean with brake cleaner. I noticed that one of the brake shoes (left shoe on the pic)) shows more wear than the other shoe. This is the same on the other side, does anyone know if this is normal ?

Not sure if the pic shows it very well

Yes the leading shoe is thicker from new Craig, I have changed a few on my cars over the years so it's normal.

Thanks

Hi
I have the same work done the last days but my motive was to do the check because of that the break is not coming lose totally.
They Always breaking a little bit.
My opinion is that the hydraulic cylinder is not working smooth and the automatic adjuster is also not working how it should.
My decision is now to change for disc brakes. The car has with 8000 km the hydraulic cylinder that bad that i have to change them and now with the new ones at 20.000 km the same.
The brake shoes looking like the same as yours. The shoes looking at some spots like new and at other spots they are at the wear limit. That could not be normal.

Hi Dani.....as Richard said, the leading shoe is thicker from new so it’s normal.

I'd be wary of ending up with an overbraked rear end if converting to discs.
The best option would be to have the brake cylinders rebuilt with stainless steel inserts. Will keep the bake balance and will last a lot longer than simply replacing with new cylinders.

Ok

Thank you Graham!
Do you know where i can get these stainless-steel inserts for the brake cylinders.

The drum brakes making me sick. So much work and money for just fixing a system that never worked fine.
2 Times the pistons do not work.
I am just talking about my case. I know that the most are totally happy with their drum break.
I am wondering that there are two manufactures they are offering brake disc converting kits for my Morgan?
Of course, there is also the option to build a Pressure regulator in the system.
So, it’s possible to adjust the balance in between front and rear.
Nobody tried it out?

Yes, craig i guess i understand. Not Shure :-)
But it looks like the same as you brake shoes. One side looks like new the other is near to the metal.
That would mean I have to change every 20.000 km the Brake shoes because of they are just working on one side.
Then i prefer to switch on a disc brake with a pressure regulator.
I now the concerns about the danger of over braking at the rear. I guess with doing a nice regulation on a brake test stand with some testing on a race circuit will do a least same save as a not good working drum break.
Or not?

Dan, my brake shoes are not near to the metal, one is just thicker than the other, my picture probably isn’t very clear.

PastParts do the stainless sleeves:

www.pastparts.co.uk

Dani,
An alternate view -
Only 10 kilometres from a rear cylinder; something doesn’t sound right.
BUT
£25 for an axle set of rear seals compared to (say) £900 for a disc conversion I’d suggest the £25 every few years.