Hi Alan,
You'll end up taking off more than 1/8 inch off a shoe that is fully
lined, but if you reduce the lining by small increments you won't
stuff them up. I'll try and find some old original shoes and give you
a closer shoe length.
Unless someone else has a spare set of old rear shoes available they
can measure and post the answer here.
Chris
www.myaustinhealey.com
Sent from my iPhone
On 20/10/2010, at 2:27 AM, Alan Bromfield <bluehealey@gmail.com> wrote:
> Brilliant!! Exactly where my thought processes were going.
>
> On my BJ8 this problem was particularly prevalent with the rears
> locking up far too easily. I thought it was caused by weight
> transfer to the front under heavy braking. I discovered soon after
> that my apparently perfect Vredestein tyres were abut 10 years old
> and had the consistency (and grip) of wood! New Michelin XAS
> helped, but the over braking of the rears was still a problem.
>
> Reducing the swept area of the shoes will reduce the efficiency,
> raise the temperature, and should give a better pedal feel around
> the max braking point. I've never tried it but figured it was worth
> some research.
>
> Tell me does just 1/8" off the trailing edges really make a
> noticeable difference? Would leading edge be more effective by
> reducing the servo effect?
>
> Just exploring before I get in there with the hacksaw.
>
> Cheers.
>
> On 19 October 2010 14:18, Chris Dimmock <austin.healey@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> Hi Magnus,
> The main reason I've found for rear brakes locking is that most
> modern rear brake shoes are relined across the entire shoe.
> Standard Healey shoes in the era were never relined over the entire
> metal shoe surface. NEVER.
> Hence more rear braking capacity.
> <Snip>
> Rear brake shoe lining size adjustment is the way that many race car
> drivers have adjusted rear brake bias long before adjustable bias
> systems came along. And still do in classes of racing that prevent
> the adjustment of things that weren't adjustable.
> <Snip>
> Conceptually. Just use a hacksaw to cut the lining to reduce the
> surface contact area, until the rear brakes no longer lock first.
> i.e. Just reduce the lining surface area!!!
> <Snip>
> The process:
> Break really hard like your kid ran out in front of your Healey, IN
> A SAFE PLACE - well away from other people/ cars/ children. Full
> emergency brake. Just test to see if you have rear lock up.
> If you do...
> Jack up and cut 1/8 in off both rear linings.
> Start at the trailing edge.
> Retest. Repeat.
> <Snip>
> Until it no longer locks at the rear.
> <Snip>
> It's not rocket surgery. But it is time consuming.
> Chris
_______________________________________________
Healeys@autox.team.net
Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
Suggested annual donation $12.75
Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
|