Warning: Brake shoes must be renewed on both rear wheels at the same time - never renew the shoes on only one wheel, as uneven braking may result. Also, the dust created by wear of the shoes may contain asbestos, which is a health hazard. Never blow it out with compressed air, and don’t inhale any of it. An approved filtering mask should be worn when working on the brakes. DO NOT use petrol or petroleum-based solvents to clean brake parts; use brake cleaner or methylated spirit only.

Carburettor engine models except Van variants
1 Slacken the roadwheel bolts, raise the rear of the vehicle and support it securely (see “Jacking and Vehicle Support”). Remove the roadwheels.

2 Release the handbrake fully.

3 Tap off the hub dust cap, remove the split pin, nut retainer, nut and thrustwasher (see illustrations).

5.3a Remove the rear hub dust cap . . .

5.3b . . . extract the split pin and nut retainer . . .

5.3c . . . then unscrew the hub nut . . .

5.3d . . . and remove the thrustwasher

4 Pull the hub/drum towards you and then push it back enough to be able to take the outer bearing from the spindle (see illustration).

5.4 Remove the hub outer bearing . . .

5 Remove the hub/drum and brush out any dust taking care not to inhale it (see illustration).

5.5 . . . followed by the hub/drum assembly

6 Remove the shoe hold-down spring from the leading shoe (see illustration). Do this by gripping the dished washer with a pair of pliers, depressing it and turning it through 90° Remove the washer, spring and the holddown post. Note the locations of the leading and trailing shoes and the cut-back of the linings at the leading ends.

5.6 Removing the brake shoe hold-down washer and spring

7 Pull the leading shoe outwards and upwards away from the backplate (see illustration).

5.7 Removing the leading brake shoe

A Leading shoe B Lower spring

8 Twist the shoe to disengage it from the return springs and adjuster strut. On models with the later type rear brake assembly it will be necessary to move the auto adjuster to maximum adjustment to disengage the shoe from the strut. Make a note of the return spring arrangement and hole locations if in any doubt (see illustrations).

5.8a Exploded view of the rear brake assembly as fitted to early models

A Dust excluder
B Piston
C Seal
D Spring
E Cylinder body
F Seal
G Piston
H Dust excluder
I Gasket
J Spring washer
K Mounting bolt
L Adjuster strut
M Return spring
N Hold-down spring
O Return spring
P Inspection hole plug
Q Leading shoe
R Backplate
S Handbrake lever plunger T Trailing shoe
U Hold-down post
V Spring
W Dished washer
X Return spring
Y Dust cover
Z Bleed screw

5.8b Exploded view of the rear brake assembly as fitted to fuel-injected models, Van variants and later Saloon and Estate models

A Trailing shoe
B Adjuster strut
C Spring
D Wheel cylinder
E Backplate
F Hold-down post
G Leading shoe
H Spring
J Dished washer
K Ratchet pawl spring
L Return spring
M Return spring

9 Remove the trailing shoe in a similar way, at the same time withdrawing the adjuster strut.

10 Release the end of the handbrake cable from the lever on the shoe (see illustration).

5.10 Removing the handbrake cable from the trailing brake shoe

A Handbrake cable
B Lever
C Trailing shoe

11 Disconnect the trailing shoe from the adjuster strut by pulling the shoe outwards and twisting the shoe spring (see illustration).

5.11 Separating the trailing brake shoe from the adjuster strut

12 Before reassembly, sparingly lubricate the brake shoe contact areas on the backplate, fixed abutment and wheel cylinder pistons with a high melting-point brake grease.

13 Commence reassembly by installing the trailing shoe. Do this by engaging the handbrake lever return spring to the shoe.

Hook the strut onto the spring and lever it into position. Set the strut self-adjusting mechanism to its contracted position (early type) or maximum position (later type).

14 Locate the webs of the trailing shoe on the wheel cylinder and the fixed abutment, making sure that the lower end of the handbrake lever is correctly located on the face of the plastic plunger and not trapped behind it.

15 Fit the trailing shoe hold-down post and spring. Hold the leading shoe in position.

16 Connect the larger shoe return spring at the lower (abutment) position between both shoes.

17 Holding the leading shoe almost at rightangles to the backplate, connect the spring between it and the strut and then engage the bottom end of the shoe behind the abutment retainer plate.

18 Swivel the shoe towards the backplate so that the cut-out in its web passes over the quadrant lever. Fit the shoe hold-down post, spring and washer.

19 Centralise the shoes within the backplate by tapping them if necessary with the hand, then fit the hub/drum and slide the outer bearing onto the spindle.

20 Fit the thrustwasher and hub nut finger tight only.

21 Tighten the hub nut to a torque of between 20 and 25 Nm (15 and 18 lbf ft), at the same time rotating the roadwheel in an anti-clockwise direction.

22 Unscrew the nut one half a turn and then tighten it only finger tight.

23 Fit the nut retainer so that two of its slots line up with the split pin hole. Insert a new split pin, bending the end around the nut, not over the end of the stub axle.

24 Tap the dust cap into position.

25 Refit the roadwheel and check that a small amount of hub bearing free play can be felt when the wheel is rocked at the top and bottom.

26 Depress the brake pedal fully several times to operate the self-adjusting mechanism then lower the car to the ground.

27 Recheck the tightness of the wheel bolts.

Fuel-injection engine models and Van variants
28 On these vehicles the brake drum is separate from the hub and can be removed without the need to remove the hub as well.

The bearings will therefore not need to be readjusted during reassembly.

29 The brake shoe inspection and removal procedure is very similar to that described previously but note the following differences.

30 Before removing the drum unscrew the drum retaining screw (see illustration).

5.30 Removing the drum retaining screw on models with a separate brake drum

31 Disconnect the lower shoe return spring which bridges the shoes and then disconnect the handbrake cable from the lever.

32 Prise the shoes away from the lower pivot, twist them from the wheel cylinder and remove as an assembly.

33 With the shoes removed they can be separated from the strut. Note how the components are positioned before dismantling (see illustrations).

5.33a Brake shoe return spring and adjuster strut arrangement on Van, fuelinjected models and later Saloon and Estate models

5.33b Automatic adjuster assembly on Van, fuel-injected models and later Saloon and Estate models

34 Refitting is a reversal of the removal procedure.