Warning: Brake shoes must be renewed on both rear wheels at the same time - never renew the shoes on only one wheel, as uneven braking may result. Also, the dust created by wear of the shoes may contain asbestos, which is a health hazard. Never blow it out with compressed air, and don’t inhale any of it. An approved filtering mask should be worn when working on the brakes. DO NOT use petrol or petroleumbased solvents to clean brake parts; use brake cleaner or methylated spirit only.

Note: The rear brake shoe assemblies may be of either DBA Bendix or Girling manufacture, according to model and year. The components may vary in detail, but the principles described in the following paragraphs are equally applicable to both types. Make a careful note of the fitted positions of all components before dismantling.

1 Remove the relevant hub/drum as described in Section 11.

2 Brush the dust and dirt from the shoes, backplate and drum.

3 Note the position of each shoe and the location of the return and steady springs (see illustrations).

5.3a DBA Bendix type rear brake component layout

5.3b Girling type rear brake component layout

4 Unhook and remove the upper return spring (see illustration).

5.4 Upper return spring location (DBA Bendix type)

5 Remove the steady springs using pliers to depress the outer cups and turn them through 90° (see illustration). Remove the pins from the backplate.

5.5 Shoe steady springs - arrowed (DBA Bendix type)

6 Move the serrated automatic adjuster lever quadrant against spring tension (see illustration), move the lever forwards and release the strut from the top of the shoes (DBA Bendix type only).

5.6 Automatic adjuster lever - arrowed (DBA Bendix type)

7 Expand the shoes over the wheel cylinder then release them from the bottom anchor.

8 Unhook the lever return spring and the handbrake cable.

9 If necessary, position a rubber band over the wheel cylinder to prevent the pistons coming out. Should there be evidence of brake fluid leakage from the wheel cylinder, renew it or overhaul it, as described in Section 10.

10 Transfer the handbrake and automatic adjuster levers to the new shoes as required.

Note that the levers and strut on each rear wheel are different, and that the leading and trailing shoes are fitted with different grade linings.

11 Place the shoes on the bench in their correct location and fit the lower return spring.

12 Apply brake grease sparingly to the metal contact points of the shoes, then position them on the backplate and reconnect the handbrake cable. Locate the shoe ends on the bottom anchor.

13 Engage the strut with the slots at the top of the shoes, making sure it is located correctly on the automatic adjuster lever.

Engage the upper shoe ends on the wheel cylinder pistons.

14 Insert the steady spring pins in the backplate and through the shoe webs, then fit the springs and outer cups.

15 Fit the upper return spring.

16 Move the serrated automatic adjuster lever quadrant against the spring tension to set the shoes at their minimum diameter.

17 Check that the handbrake lever on the rear brake shoe is positioned with the lug on the edge of the shoe web and not behind the shoe.

18 Refit the hub/drum as described in Section 11, but do not lower the car to the ground at this stage.

19 Apply the footbrake several times to set the shoes in their adjusted position.

20 Adjust the handbrake, as described in Section 15.

21 Repeat all the operations on the opposite rear brake then refit the roadwheels and lower the car to the ground.