RP Rear brake cables

[Tony Press]

Austin may have originally intended that the shoes always fully return and this may be the reason for the very short levers initially fitted. But with worn shoes and the later long levers the pre semi Girling brakes at rest are often in a state of part operation to avoid very long pedal travel. 
If the front balls are not near the kpin axis, even when off, the tendency to grab is increased. 
The handbook photos, and diagrams and factory dwgs show the direction of the cotter which certainly suits new linings and also semi Girling but most insist on the reverse.
It is vital the brakes are never operated in a state where the cam may jam on. Can cause excitement when all the other brakes release. Nevertheess the wedging leverage near this conditon is considerable.
A colleague claims to have rolled his Seven years ago when one front wheel grabbed on turning. It may have been a 1920s model where the swivel has little effect.

"The handbook photos, and diagrams and factory dwgs show the direction of the cotter which certainly suits new linings and also semi Girling but most insist on the reverse."

The cotter pin in from the outside- front and rear, as often shown in the handbooks (not all) may suit as you say when the brake assembly is new but after much wear and the lever moves past vertical then the little gained by reversing the cotter is often useful.

My extended cotter with pull off spring puts the cotter 'in from the front'.

I can't remember the brake assembly on my cars but the levers look to be around vertical at application.

The replacement cams seem to show a good forward or rearward offset to the levers- is this the experience ?  


  Early Brake Cams.jpg (Size: 102.31 KB / Downloads: 161)

Cheers, Tony.