Hi all, I'm new to this forum and I'm seeking help. I have a Werner Oswald Frazer Nash Le Mans replica copy and it hasthe same front brakes as the XK120. These are Lockheed TLS 12". The car is new to me and the brakes were binding unacceptably. I stripped them down and addressed all the 'gunge', corrosion, cleaned and fitted new seals to the slave cylinders. Upon reassembly I find that they are still binding unacceptably with the drums up to 40-50 degees C after only a mile of running. The w/shop manual says to apply the brake pedal and the shoes should adjust themselves automatically.

. The ratchet system, as far as I can tell, seems to be designed to keep the shoes in contact with the drums when the pressure is off!!! There seems to be not way they can back off enough to enble bind-free rotation of the drums. The springs also seem to be placed so as not to be able to pull the shoes off the drum as effectively as they could be, that is, they are placed near the fulcrum end, not near to the actuating/slave cylinder end.
Can anyone shed some light on how this set-up might enable bind-free rotation as I'm worried about warping the drums??

 

When you reset the shoes did you follow the instructions in the WSM to the letter?

 

I followed the Bristol 405 w/manual to the letter (same brakes), if you could cut & paste any other w/shop manual info I would very much appreciate it as the car is undrivable until I get it sorted out. Many thanks for the prompt reply, Glenn

 

Glenn are they binding before brakes are applied--from the photo the self adjusters look close to full extension. Also what condition are the pads in the self adjuster?

 

Everything looks in good condition, with no signs of wear or unevenness in the part friction pad in the self-adjuster heads. It all look ne, as far as witness marks are concerned. The castle nuts seemed rather tightly done up for something that has to move!

 

Sorry, I didn't answer your question. Yes they are binding after releasing the pedal

 

Glen if they later release after a rest I would check the flex lines. Not knowing how your car is set up but using frequent Jaguar issues I would then check the master cylinder free play. Binding in the Jaguar system is often one of those and not shoe related.

 

No problems with the hydraulic lines -solid pipe to body and s/s braided from body to drum. I found this other diagram on a jaguar forum and it dffers in the location of the ratchet. I don't think I could try the other arrangement (with the ratchet at the fulcrum end of the shoe) as the fixings are different, post & circlip v sprung loaded bolt.
Can anyone comment on this compared to the photo of how mine are arranged.

 

 

Here's another image showing, again, different set-up to mine. I still can't see how I could try this set-up with what I've got???
Glenn

 

As I could find no problems with sticking master cylinder, lack of free play in the brake pedal, and all hoses/pipes fine. It came down to the springs that return the shoes were not best placed to do the job intented as they were exerting their force close to the fulcrum end of the shoe, not at the s/cylinder end where they would be most effective. I drilled the brake plate and repositioned the springs so that they now operate close to the m/cylinder end - NO MORE DRAGGING FRONT BRAKES!!!!!!
Thanks for all end helpful replies and advise - there will be more requests for same, no doubt.
Glenn

 

Glad you solved the issue--it is odd that the two WSMs showed different set ups.

 

I tried the set-up as the diagram (not the photo) before changing the spring location but all it did was give a longer pedal and they still dragged!!
G.