Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: terry paget on 14 May 2013, 18:17:56
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Has anyone found a satisfactory method of fitting Omega handbrake shoe steady springs? Over the years I have tried various techniques, but they are all hit and miss, and risk resulting in the spring pinging off across the garage floor and disappearing. I wonder what they do in the factory?
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there is a tool available to hold the springs most motor factors will sell them :y
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I commented on the previous thread regarding these springs. Do you/anyone have a pic of the spring in question cos at college we have 3 different tools for spring removal/fitment :)
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I commented on the previous thread regarding these springs. Do you/anyone have a pic of the spring in question cos at college we have 3 different tools for spring removal/fitment :)
The springs in the middle of the shoes .... they locate on the pin that pokes through from the back plate & have a dished washer with a slot in the middle that presses on the top of the spring
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/VAUXHALL-OPEL-OMEGA-PAIR-OF-HANDBRAKE-SHOES-SPRINGS-/00/s/NDI4WDUwMA==/$(KGrHqF,!oEE8U4!mcz7BPQTz1tMWg~~60_12.JPG)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OPEL-OMEGA-PAIR-OF-HANDBRAKE-SHOES-SPRINGS-/380195844518?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item58857031a6
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I commented on the previous thread regarding these springs. Do you/anyone have a pic of the spring in question cos at college we have 3 different tools for spring removal/fitment :)
The springs in the middle of the shoes .... they locate on the pin that pokes through from the back plate & have a dished washer with a slot in the middle that presses on the top of the spring
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/VAUXHALL-OPEL-OMEGA-PAIR-OF-HANDBRAKE-SHOES-SPRINGS-/00/s/NDI4WDUwMA==/$(KGrHqF,!oEE8U4!mcz7BPQTz1tMWg~~60_12.JPG)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OPEL-OMEGA-PAIR-OF-HANDBRAKE-SHOES-SPRINGS-/380195844518?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item58857031a6
:y
Then this is the tool required...
(http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee402/webbybear1/shoes_zps58d45703.jpg) (http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/webbybear1/media/shoes_zps58d45703.jpg.html)
:y
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I've always used a small pair of pliers.
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I've always used a small pair of pliers.
I've never had need to remove a rear disc/drum so have never even seen a set of hand brake shoes, let alone removed them. ::) ::)
But I've used pliers on other rear drums ;) ;) ;)
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It's just a standard rear shoe setup Andy, I'm sure you'll have done plenty in your time.
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I've always used a small pair of pliers.
Me too.
Although I have the tool pictured earlier, I've found it less effective than a pair of pliers and a combined twisting/pushing motion. Pliers with sharp teeth make a big difference.
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Thinking about it it's not that different to the rear drum setup on the FD Victor but without the hydraulic element. He says showing his age.
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this is the one to use..i have had this for 30 years and it does the job better than pliers...does cars and vans and is the bogs dollocks..ebay item number 250949162061 :y :y
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try this one
[IMG] (http://s1180.photobucket.com/user/b4ndit1/media/1SocketSpringCap_zps7c3d72e4.jpg.html)
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It's just a standard rear shoe setup Andy, I'm sure you'll have done plenty in your time.
Loads, but never on my Senators or Omega ....... it's a parking brake. ;) ;)
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.... He says showing his age.
You don't look it! ::) ::) ::) ::)
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.... He says showing his age.
You don't look it! ::) ::) ::) ::)
I used to do the brakes on my Dad's car when I was a kid.
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.... He says showing his age.
You don't look it! ::) ::) ::) ::)
I used to do the brakes on my Dad's car when I was a kid.
A likely tale ...... ;) ;) ;)
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Thanks for all the advice chaps. Over the years I have overhauled handbrakes on Minis, Escorts, Peugeots, and others. The Omega is tricky in that I cannot get my hand behind the pin to steady it. Some cars had a screw slot in the pin end and the pin plus spring engaged in a slot in the back plate. I have a tool similar to the e-bay number given. I have not seen the long handled tool depicted; I shall look for it.
The tool I have will not go through the hole in the hub, which makes it tricky. I seem to recall that Haynes recommends taking the hub off the car to do it. Bigger job. I suspect on the assembly line hub arrives with brake ready assembled.
As mentioned in earlier thread, once the scissors lever arrangement seizes up all the leverage is lost and the brake becomes ineffective. The OOF guide recommends overhaul every 2 years, which I think very wise. Pity it's tricky.
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As others I have always used pliers ;)
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Most of my cars over the last fifty years had drum rear brakes, and they were designed to be serviced. Senators/Omegas had disc rear brakes and drum parking brakes, so the brake shoes never wore out, so the drum brakes would not need attention during the car's design life (7 years). We enthusiasts run end of life cars, cheap to buy but challenging to maintain.
Thanks Webby, flyer0172 and b4ndit for tips on tools. I shall buy them all and report back.
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long nose pliers mate - fit through largest hole in flange plate :y easy when you got right tool for job :y
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A point to note is that the hold down pins for the shoes on P/F/L cars attached the opposite way.By that I mean that the head of the pin was inside the drum whilst the bit that usually goes through a dished washer actually went through a slot in the backplate.I know beacause the backplate on my P/F/L rotted out in this area meaning I couldn't hold down the shoes.
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A point to note is that the hold down pins for the shoes on P/F/L cars attached the opposite way.By that I mean that the head of the pin was inside the drum whilst the bit that usually goes through a dished washer actually went through a slot in the backplate.I know beacause the backplate on my P/F/L rotted out in this area meaning I couldn't hold down the shoes.
Only very early vehicles had this and it changed due to the issue you describe (there is a tech bulletin covering it).
As for the spring removal, the cable return spring can be got off with some good snipe nose pliers.
The shoe reatining springs, as per the guide, I use the snipe nose pliers plus a ring spanner. There is a nack and once you suss it then its a dead easy job.
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Thanks Marks. On doing the second side I think I am getting the hang of it. Using the tool I have - a tube in a handle, I could have done as well with a long socket in a handle - I easily got the spring and cup on with the shoe to the side of the hub, then tapped the shoe into place afterwards. No springs pinged off out of sight this time.