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Thread: How to check rear brake shoes/linings without removing drums

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    How to check rear brake shoes/linings without removing drums

    After ordering aftermarket rear brake shoes for the 180mm drums of my 2014/2015 model, I was quite surprised to see how very little material the shoes actually have!
    With normal use, I would expect the rear linings to last through round about the life of four sets of front brake pads or so.
    The linings on the shoes are comparatively narrow at only 30mm width, the drums are small, and the "thickness" of the lining material is unusually thin.
    My tiny and very much lighter-weight second car, a little old FIAT Seicento micro mini-car, with 39 hp has much bigger brake shoes with much more material! See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Seicento



    There is an undocumented peek-hole for looking at the remaining thickness of the linings. It is on the brake plate, near to where the hand brake cable enters. The hole is normally closed up with a little oval rubber plug, and is on driver and passenger sides, one side mirrors the other. On the picture below, the plug is removed for looking onto the brake shoe. The last picture shows the plug in place.
    Why is this undocumented? Probably because it was designed in the wrong place to be practical, on the opposite side would have been better and would have saved you from risking to dislocate your neck trying to see inside.

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    Picture below: The same hole with the the rubber plug in place (sorry for the dark picture!)


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    Last edited by foama; 01-23-2018 at 09:50 AM.

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    Moderator Eggman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by foama View Post
    Why is it undocumented? Probably because it was designed in the wrong place to be practical, on the opposite side it would have been better and would have saved you from dislocating your neck trying to see inside.
    Ha - you're probably right. I would have guessed it's a feature common to so many drum brake designs that it's almost not worth mentioning but I like your idea too.

    Thanks for the picture.

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    Senior Member Cobrajet's Avatar
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    You mean this inspection hole? Did you actually pull a rubber plug out of the hole in your picture? That looks like a wear hole to me. Is that what you meant by 'undocumented'?


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    Quote Originally Posted by Cobrajet View Post
    You mean this inspection hole? Did you actually pull a rubber plug out of the hole in your picture? That looks like a wear hole to me. Is that what you meant by 'undocumented'?


    No, not that hole!
    The peek-hole meant is almost covered by the handbrake cable, where it enters the brake plate.
    I can't see it on your picture, it would be about south-west direction from the entering hand brake cable. See the picture in the first post, which shows the back of the brake plate as it is seen looking from under the car with the wheels on.
    The picture was taken of the "old" 2015 model with the smaller 180mm drum diameter. Maybe your picture is from a different (203mm) brake plate?

    Undocumented means, the Factory Service Manual (FSM) makes no mention about it at all. Probably because it was a design error Homer Simpson style, being put in the stupidest place thinkable.
    Last edited by foama; 01-21-2018 at 11:15 AM. Reason: Fixed quote

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    Senior Member Cobrajet's Avatar
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    Something has been rubbing there, and it wore all the way through the backing plate. That hole wasn't put there by the factory, which is what I was getting at. You can't see it in my pic because it isn't there.

    Do you have a corresponding hole on the other backing plate?

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    Yes the other plate has it too, and in the same (mirrored) place, with the same little plug carrying the Mitsubishi logo.

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    Senior Member Cobrajet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by foama View Post
    Yes the other plate has it too, and in the same (mirrored) place, with the same little plug carrying the Mitsubishi logo.
    Weeeeirrrd...

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    Have added a second picture to the first post, showing the sealed hole.

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    Great write up. I've added to the mods & DIYs list:

    Mirage Modifications, Customizations, and DIY list
    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


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    Looking at Cobrajet's picture... Where is the "adjuster check hole" located?

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        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 52.2 mpg (US) ... 22.2 km/L ... 4.5 L/100 km ... 62.6 mpg (Imp)


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