Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

I'm attempting to replace a brake shoe adjuster on my '89 L300 (mine sheared off). I found one for an '89 Montero, which isn't the same, but might work.

Anyhow, I was attempting to put the shoes back together, and that upper spring is a real pain to get back on; I couldn't get it (and even bent it a little). I'm not at home at the moment, but got to thinking: Is it easier to put this spring on before attaching the shoes to the backing plate? Any pointers?

I usually install one brake shoe completely, then hold the second shoe roughly in place, install the lower spring and, using the shoe as a handle and for leverage, put the shoe's lower end into it's retaining slot. The top end of the shoe should still be free, so installing the top spring is easy, then you just need to pull the shoe to the right, stretching the top spring, until you can slot the top end of the shoe into the cylinder's slot.

...and that turned out to be a lot more difficult to describe than I expected. Hopefully it makes sense?

Growlerbearnz wrote:I usually install one brake shoe completely, then hold the second shoe roughly in place, install the lower spring and, using the shoe as a handle and for leverage, put the shoe's lower end into it's retaining slot. The top end of the shoe should still be free, so installing the top spring is easy, then you just need to pull the shoe to the right, stretching the top spring, until you can slot the top end of the shoe into the cylinder's slot.

...and that turned out to be a lot more difficult to describe than I expected. Hopefully it makes sense?

I think I get it. I already have the bottom spring on, so I'll give your top spring method a try. (I'll need to take the retaining pin off first, too)

I should probably ask: Do you know if there are any cross-compatible brake spring kits for these? Montero? Galant? Something else?

Just beware that once the shoe has the springs installed but no retaining pin, the springs will try to flip the shoe out of its slots. You'll probably have to hold the shoe in place lightly while you install the retaining pin. Some kind of clamp might help.

Growlerbearnz wrote:Just beware that once the shoe has the springs installed but no retaining pin, the springs will try to flip the shoe out of its slots. You'll probably have to hold the shoe in place lightly while you install the retaining pin. Some kind of clamp might help.

Thanks for the tip. It happened when taking the shoes off, too.