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[05omegav6]

....
No more difficult than any drum braked car or rear drums/front disc systems that were the norm not so many years ago.  Use a pair of pliers - there is a knack - 10 secs per clip

But the Omega adds the extra challenge of doing the job through a 3/4" hole 

Only if you're trying to make it complicated

[Nick W]

The Omega factor that makes fitting the pin clips tricky is that you can't push/hold the pin from the back while you  attach the clip. So where the same job on a Capri (for example)isn't worth commenting on, here it's a pain.
If you're really struggling with pliers, then grinding a small groove across the jaws makes the much job easier. A Dremel cutting disc and some cheaply pliers is the way to do this.

[Ever Ready]

Capri you say?  very easy to do especially if you had the Girling tool for the pin clip

[omega3000]

Mite be wrong but i thought the pins pushed through the back plate  No way would they push through .. obv im wrong 

[Shackeng]

....

And technically, its also a secondary braking system, so needs to be able to shave off speed in an emergency

Is it?  Sure it's more of a parking brake.  You'd be better off sticking your foot out of the door in my Merc than try to use the foot operated parking brake 

Yeah, apparently.  Some newer cars have get-out/loophole clauses to get around this.

They dont on the Astra J, press the handbrake button for a few seconds and it bongs at you followed by all hell breaking loose!

I dont mind doing the rear shoes at all, how long did it take us on TBE at Sereks?

Exactly, a very easy job with two pairs of hands, but I found getting those shoe retaining springs in very tricky.

No more difficult than any drum braked car or rear drums/front disc systems that were the norm not so many years ago.  Use a pair of pliers - there is a knack - 10 secs per clip

You think? Every car I owned up to disc brakes were this type, and were very simple, including rivetting new linings to the shoes, and IIRC the facility to hold the pins in from the backplate. I've lost count of how many I have done since I started work on my own cars starting with a '53 Ford Consul, and I can assure you that none required the operation to be carried out through a hole about 10mm in diameter, and with no access to hold the pins in place.

[Nick W]

Mite be wrong but i thought the pins pushed through the back plate  No way would they push through .. obv im wrong 

They're pushed through the backplate, from the back before it's bolted to the trailing arm. But they are not a tight fit, and can move back through their hole by a few mm. Which is just enough to make compressing the spring and turning the clip awkward. Access to the back of the pin allows you to hold it in place while fitting the clip. And although I have the tool for that, I still find it easier with pliers. I would recommend the small T-handled hook that Sealey sell; it makes fitting brake springs so much easier. I paid less than a fiver for it, which was a bargain. I''ll dig out the part number if anyone is interested.

[omega3000]

Mite be wrong but i thought the pins pushed through the back plate  No way would they push through .. obv im wrong 

They're pushed through the backplate, from the back before it's bolted to the trailing arm. But they are not a tight fit, and can move back through their hole by a few mm. Which is just enough to make compressing the spring and turning the clip awkward. Access to the back of the pin allows you to hold it in place while fitting the clip. And although I have the tool for that, I still find it easier with pliers. I would recommend the small T-handled hook that Sealey sell; it makes fitting brake springs so much easier. I paid less than a fiver for it, which was a bargain. I''ll dig out the part number if anyone is interested.

Well i found the spring almost impossible to get back on  Any link to the tool your on about .. mite invest in one as the rear brakes need a good overhaul especially a non existent hand brake 

[chrisgixer]

Only ever adjusted my hand brake once on this car. As it was so high it lifted the centre arm rest and wore through the gator, thanks to the previous owner.

Set it so it just binds a bit, aply hand brake while moving a few times as the manual describes to keep rust off the drum, perfect.

Now just leave the damn thing alone. ...unless parked on an incline that really needs it if course, which is rare for me.



I suspect the cables stretch when abused though.

[chrisgixer]

Oh, and it's no good claiming its easy when using a ramp. Try it on the drive with a bad back.

You need both hands, so can't neal as head hight is to high, or lean on an elbow on your side as your hands are needed, so are forced to bend forward while nealing to see through the hole which absolutly murders my lower back.

Then there's getting the screwdriver on the adjutor, and working out which way to adjust it on each side. It's a shit if a job.

But at least it works when done, on the superior model of course.

[omega3000]

That about sums it up 

[BazaJT]

The early cars[just p/f/l's?]the hold down pins went in from the brake shoe side and through a shaped hole in the backplate-at least they were like that on the 1995 Elite I once owned-I believe this system was a carry over from the Opel Monza/Senator?Trouble was the backplate rots out around the pin and then the brake shoes are free to "flop" about!!Again past experience with my early Elite!

[Andy H]

The early cars[just p/f/l's?]the hold down pins went in from the brake shoe side and through a shaped hole in the backplate-at least they were like that on the 1995 Elite I once owned-I believe this system was a carry over from the Opel Monza/Senator?Trouble was the backplate rots out around the pin and then the brake shoes are free to "flop" about!!Again past experience with my early Elite!

On my 94 saloon the pins went in from the brake shoe side as described. It was a bit of a faf getting the pins & springs in behind the wheel flange but once lined up it was easy to poke a Phillips screwdriver through the 10mm hole, push the pin into its slot & give it a 1/4 turn. Or it was easy until the backplate rusted and the keyholes disintegrated 

[dbug]

....

And technically, its also a secondary braking system, so needs to be able to shave off speed in an emergency

Is it?  Sure it's more of a parking brake.  You'd be better off sticking your foot out of the door in my Merc than try to use the foot operated parking brake 

Yeah, apparently.  Some newer cars have get-out/loophole clauses to get around this.

They dont on the Astra J, press the handbrake button for a few seconds and it bongs at you followed by all hell breaking loose!

I dont mind doing the rear shoes at all, how long did it take us on TBE at Sereks?

Exactly, a very easy job with two pairs of hands, but I found getting those shoe retaining springs in very tricky.

No more difficult than any drum braked car or rear drums/front disc systems that were the norm not so many years ago.  Use a pair of pliers - there is a knack - 10 secs per clip

You think? Every car I owned up to disc brakes were this type, and were very simple, including rivetting new linings to the shoes, and IIRC the facility to hold the pins in from the backplate. I've lost count of how many I have done since I started work on my own cars starting with a '53 Ford Consul, and I can assure you that none required the operation to be carried out through a hole about 10mm in diameter, and with no access to hold the pins in place.

No - I know

[chrisgixer]

....

And technically, its also a secondary braking system, so needs to be able to shave off speed in an emergency

Is it?  Sure it's more of a parking brake.  You'd be better off sticking your foot out of the door in my Merc than try to use the foot operated parking brake 

Yeah, apparently.  Some newer cars have get-out/loophole clauses to get around this.

They dont on the Astra J, press the handbrake button for a few seconds and it bongs at you followed by all hell breaking loose!

I dont mind doing the rear shoes at all, how long did it take us on TBE at Sereks?

Exactly, a very easy job with two pairs of hands, but I found getting those shoe retaining springs in very tricky.

No more difficult than any drum braked car or rear drums/front disc systems that were the norm not so many years ago.  Use a pair of pliers - there is a knack - 10 secs per clip

You think? Every car I owned up to disc brakes were this type, and were very simple, including rivetting new linings to the shoes, and IIRC the facility to hold the pins in from the backplate. I've lost count of how many I have done since I started work on my own cars starting with a '53 Ford Consul, and I can assure you that none required the operation to be carried out through a hole about 10mm in diameter, and with no access to hold the pins in place.

No - I know everything

He's not wrong you know.

[Shackeng]

Its always worth reading threads of this nature, as you get an idea of exactly who has the experience to offer the most useful comments. My own subjective experience is that it is far easier to replace this type of shoe without a great steel flange in the way