Rear Brake Adjustment MKIIA

1974 MKIIA

I have loosened the spindle nut, held the brake pedal down to center the brake shoes and tightened the nut back up.

I cannot seem to find a happy place while adjusting the cable. Either it is too tight or when I loosen it enough to let the wheel spin free, the brake pedal needs to be pressed so far down to even start putting braking power on. When it is up on the center stand and the brake is applied, I cannot turn the wheel with my hand.

It seems that the brake pedal needs to be pressed too far down to engage it. Is there another adjustment I am missing?

They are new shoes installed.

If the hole for the spindle in the brake plate is not large enough then loosening the nut and applying the brake does not move the plate enough, you can file the hole a bit larger as once the bolt is tightened the plate cannot move. I would also arc the new shoes as they may not match the drum enough.

I wouldn't file anything.

Something else is going on.

Seems like inequality with the brake shoe thickness. Some disassemble, visial inspection, and bench work may be in order. Check brake cam to brake lever relationship along with the spring function. Just throwing out ideas.

I agree. My brakes were not too bad in the back before I changed out the shoes but they were over 20 years old and getting a bit thin. I think pulling the wheel apart is in order and give it a good visual.

If you can find some common old chalk (blackboard school chalk), whiten the brake drum surface, reassemble, and see where the shoes wipe the chalk off.

It takes a little while for the shoes to bed in and make good contact everywhere - maybe the brakes just need a few good stops.
Don't do it with a brick wall at the end of your test spot....