Girling or Bendix rear brakes????

[R4don]

Hi everyone,

I have a simple question which someone may hopefully know the answer to.

How do I identify which make of rear brakes are fitted to my 1986 R4 GTL, ie Bendix or Girling? Is the there some ID on the wheel cylinders by any chance?

Regards

R4don

 

[malcolm]

There are photos of the two types here: http://www.renault4.co.uk/tech-brake-drums.htm The adjuster mechanism is quite different on the two brakes (Girling at the top of the page and Bendix at the bottom), although you can only see that by taking the brake drum off.

It is possible to tell without removing the brake drum. The backplate on the Girling brake has a flared edge on the outer rim where it meets the brake drum, while the Bendix has a flat edge. Also the springs holding the shoes to the backlpate are different - the Girling has two pins going through the backplate which the Bendix doesn't have.

 

[R4don]

Hi Clementine,

Great pictures. Much appreciated.

The brakes on my R4 are definitely Bendix then. These are funny looking items holding the shoe to the backplate. Do they simply unscrew out the back of the backplate?
I need to replace the wheel cylinder so I might do this without removing the shoes!

Thanks for the advice,
Cheers, Don.

 

[malcolm]

The shoe locators are a bit weird - they are springs that hook onto a tab on the backplate with a hole in it. They come off with long nosed pliers.

 

[R4don]

Many Thanks, Clementine.

Cheers
Don