05-03-2019, 08:16 PM
The brake levers are not handed, the cotter hole goes straight through. The flat on the cam is at the angle suitable for the side of the car to which it is fitted which means they are handed. This is because the rear brake pivot is at an angle to the vertical line through the hub centre, clearly seen on your picture.
However the flat face on the cotter pin IS angled. When it's inserted it makes the lever 'lean' by that angle. If put in from the other side the lever will 'lean' the same amount but the other way. Very simple to check out on the car or on a cam and lever off the car, just try it!
The effect of the cotter is very small compared with the angle of the cam.
Your brake cams are on the wrong side and need to be swapped round before you do anything else.
With new linings, unworn cams, unworn heels on the shoes, unworn drums and the cotter the right way the lever will be at the correct angle. As things wear the lever angle will change. Eventually needing new parts, probably linings, or shimming of the cam.
Front brakes are different because the brake cams are directly on the axle vertical centre line. Thus the front cams are not handed and the cotter pin direction has more importance.
This applies to Austin brakes. Girling are different.
However the flat face on the cotter pin IS angled. When it's inserted it makes the lever 'lean' by that angle. If put in from the other side the lever will 'lean' the same amount but the other way. Very simple to check out on the car or on a cam and lever off the car, just try it!
The effect of the cotter is very small compared with the angle of the cam.
Your brake cams are on the wrong side and need to be swapped round before you do anything else.
With new linings, unworn cams, unworn heels on the shoes, unworn drums and the cotter the right way the lever will be at the correct angle. As things wear the lever angle will change. Eventually needing new parts, probably linings, or shimming of the cam.
Front brakes are different because the brake cams are directly on the axle vertical centre line. Thus the front cams are not handed and the cotter pin direction has more importance.
This applies to Austin brakes. Girling are different.
Jim