[TR] fitting new rear brake pads TR3

[Jeremiah Curry]

Thanks everyone who has replied.

I checked with Moss and the part I have 585-020 should be correct for my car
and after comparing to the old pads, they are very close in shape and the
same size.  But if I place them in the drums, they don't fit together quite
as well as the old ones, but it is close.  I don't think they are an inch
off and since the car has been sitting since 69, I think everything is
original except a TR3a front clip.

The adjusters do come all the way together

I replaced the wheel cylinders so those definitely slide easily

I checked multiple times that the shoes fit in the grooves and emergency
brake is not set.

Maybe I just need to grind the shoes down on the edges or file the shoe
surfaces.

Thanks again,
Jeremaih

-----Original Message-----
From: Randall [mailto:tr3driver at ca.rr.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 6:59 PM
To: 'Jeremiah Curry'; triumphs at autox.team.net
Subject: RE: [TR] fitting new rear brake pads TR3



> I recently bought new brake pads for my TR3 (TS16641) but when I fit
> them, I can't get the drum back on, even when adjusting all of the way
> in.  If I re-fit the old pads, the fit is fine.  Is there some trick
> to getting these on?

Only a few points, and they are kind of obvious :

Make sure the adjuster wedges are actually retracting into the housing when
you unscrew (turn CCW) the adjustment screw.  Sometimes they get stuck.

Make sure the slave cylinder can slide (with some force) on the backing
plate.  You may need to experiment a bit to get it in the right position,
and they sometimes corrode in place.

Also compare the shoes carefully to be sure you have the right ones.  Your
car should have 10" Girling rear brakes, but earlier TR3s came with 10"
Lockheed brakes, and they take different shoes.  It's also not unusual to
find conversions, so your car may not have the same brakes as the books
show.

And of course make sure the shoes are seating into the slots they belong in.

It is possible that the new shoes are too thick, but I've not experienced
that myself.  You might try calling around, to see if someone in your area
can finish them to match your drums (which used to be known as 'arcing' the
shoes and was a standard part of a good brake job).  If not, and you are
absolutely certain they are too thick, some work with a moderately coarse
metal file should solve the problem.

Randall