Hitchcocks Forum

For my 1954 R E Meteor 700 I bought from our hosts front and rear brake linings which I have riveted in place. On offering them up both front and rear are to big. As far as I can roughly measure the fronts are about 2mm in diameter to big. Anyone experienced this.
I am looking around for someone to machine the shoes to the correct dimension but not that common in Hampshire.

You have undone the adjusters fully?

Most ALL brake linings come in std thickness's; that you think they are 2mm out is highly unusual? Rived on lining s needs to be done carefully , and preferably with the correct rivet punches...


Did you clean of the shoes thoroughly, and did you apply the rivets at the center and then work out?


Have you chamfered the leading edges?


If in doubt, a strip of emery tape worked carefully and slowly too and fro around the lining can be used to reduce thickness, but 2mm would be pushing it.

Not that it helps much but I have all my brakes lined by professionals, in my case
http://classicbrakeservices.vpweb.co.uk/default.html
I do not use Saftek

It's quite common to have oversized linings fitted and then turned down on a lathe to suit the actual internal diameter of the drum. This might also be a good opportunity to bet the brake drum itself checked out in case the braking surface needs truing. A.

Sorry, "get", not "bet".

Thanks for the comments. The rear drum is new from our hosts, but all are as I say all are some 2mm on diameter to large. Having backplate and shoes turned down was a common practise in years gone by, so that is what I will have to pursue. But thanks anyway.