Handbrake shoe replacement

[leftfootleashed]

I'm replacing my handbrake shoes. I got the assembly together, but the brake disc/drum won't go over them.

I've taken the lever that pushes the shoes apart off the end of the cable, and put it between the shoes in it's narrowest position (i.e. corresponding to the slackest the handbrake will go), with the spreader bar in as well, and offered it up to the drum: won't fit.

Any ideas?

Some things I've thought of:
- Pretty certain the shoes are the right size
- They're the right way round (the wrong way round makes them fit even less
- The insides of the drums are quite pitted, but surely there's no way that could reduce the space in there?

[geoffo]

...love it when what should be a straight forward job requires problem solving and then takes ten times as long...

[leftfootleashed]

That's not the half of it. I've already done the job twice: once before I bought a new new spring kit, and once when I completely re-assembled and adjusted, only to find the spreader bar in the pile of tools when packing up. Words were exchanged, mainly with inanimate objects.

[Volvorama]

Can I assume that you have slackened off the cable?
Other issues could be a ridge around the edge of the drum that may be carefully removed with a grinder.

[leftfootleashed]

Originally Posted by Volvorama

Can I assume that you have slackened off the cable?

I have, but I've also removed the lever from the cable so I can check it independently of the cable position.

Originally Posted by Volvorama

Other issues could be a ridge around the edge of the drum that may be carefully removed with a grinder.

It does seem that might be the case. I can't see how the drum can grow inwards, but Clifford Pope seemed to solve this problem this way in this thread: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=183059

I'm reluctant to start cutting the spreader bar though.

[leftfootleashed]

With the disc in the vice and the lever, spreader bar and pads I was able to grind the inside of the disc with a flap wheel til the assembly fitted nicely. It didn't take nearly as much grinding as I thought it would. Now everything's back together again.

Thanks all. Without advice on here, I probably would have put off taking an angle grinder to my brake disc for a lot longer.