Fix it.  I removed the shoes to see if i could gently ue a c-clamp to squish the cylinder in a bit.  When that didn't work i thought to take apart the adjest wedge a screw.  As soon as i did that whatever was binding it came loose.  I cleaned them up a bit and now i can fully adjust the wedges.  Now to just re-install the shoes, drum, and wheel.

Take the shoes off and test fit them in the drum the way Minibitz outlined on his 11.20 post on this thread, make sure the wheel cylinder pistons are back in all the way crack the bleeder loose if you have to.

So so so close.

1. Back driver side: new drumb and adjusted 

2. Front (both): adjusted

3. ARRRGH  Attempting to install new drum and i just can get it to clear the shoes and slide on.  As i spin the adjuster out it eventually locks, but not nearly as far out as the other side.  I just put some WD40 on it and wiggled it back and forth 50 times with out it helping.  Next I screwed it all the way in (pushing the shoes full out), reapplied WD-40 and now giving it some time along to think about what its done.

Any ideas?

Will

Yup, no spacers for me.  Stock drum brakes all around.  Maybe in a few years i'll go disc, not for now its fun/fustrating learning about drum brakes! 

Notice there are two different ones advertised one with the built in spacer one without, make sure you get the right ones.

ORDERED.  robably won't get here by the weekend, but got way to much going on anyway.  lust the car looks bad ass on jack stands, nearly as tall as the clubman!  I guess i could adjust the front brakes and put the wheels on the front.

Well done!

Our hosts sell the drums, on special too by the looks.

//www.minimania.com/part/21A22/Austin-Mini-And-Cooper-Brake-Drum-7-Diameter

You were right.  The rear drums were too worn.  I moved one of the fronts to the rear and i had to loosen the adjuster nearly all the out to get the drum on.  Once on the adjust only took a few turns until lock!  Brilliant!  Just need to buy new drums.  Are they available locally anywhere? There is a slight chance i will have time this weekend to finish the job, otherwise i will just order online.

Again, thank you everyone.  If anyone is in the Morristown area of NJ, beers are on me!

Right of course.  I read that wrong.  lus it is easier to move drums than shoes!

Thanks

Will

Front shoes are wider than rears and will not sit level if you put them on the rear. Malsals suggestion is a good one. Take the new drums off the front, fit to the rear and see if they will adjust up. If they do the shoes are fine but the rear drums are worn and need replacing. If you still can't get adjustment then both shoes & drums should be replaced.

Thanks for the tip.  I just double checked my invoices/records and the rear brakes were not replaced by myself or the previous owner.  Just the rear wheel cylinders.

That being the case. I an still eliminate the rear pads by using the fronts to test, or i can say F it and just got get new. Being that is is DUMPING snow right now, i guess i will use the fronts to test.  

If the adjuster won't lock the rear brakes up your drums or shoes are worn out and as the shoes are new  that eliminates them. Take a front drum off and install it on the rear and see if you can lock the brakes up with the adjuster and if so you need drums. There just saved you $50 bucks almost enough for two new drums.....

Can I use a tape measure or do i need to get a 12" Digital Caliper from Harbor frieght ($50 + whatever elsei buy while i am there).

Measure the inside diameter of the drums. They should be 7.00"
I would think that anything more than about 1/16" larger would be suspect.

Measure them, as Minibitz said you should be able to lock them down with the adjuster.

Front brakes are all new.  New shoes, cylinders, drums, lines.

Rear brakes are new shoes and cylinders and "old" drums.

If the rear adjusters keep winding in then either the shoes are too far worn or the brake drum is. I can see that the front shoes appear to be touching in the chenre of the shoe but not at the ends which would lead me to think the drums may be worn oversize.

The spring was on the wrong side.  Not sure if it made a difference but here is where i stand right now.

Front wheels back on after doing some minor sanding to the shoes.  

Front brakes adjusted until wheels are locked.

Back Wheels are back on, BUT i can not adjust them so that they lock.

Pedal status: HARD!  I can only push about 1/2 the way down with my hand (previously i could push to the floor without mush issues).

Questions:

1. Why can't i adjust the back wheels to lock?
2. Front next step?  Looses until they rotate free then adjust each adjuster seperately?

Looks like your left hand rear top spring is on the outside of the shoe

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