Hi Steve,
Yes, it is the correct hole.
There is a bit of a knack to it! I have known some remove the drive shaft (which is a relatively quick job) to assist access to reassemble the rear brakes, but that is a bit OTT! The shoes are 'trailing', so make sure they are fitted correctly relative to the wheel rotation.
I assume you have ensured the handbrake operating lever (that goes from the handbrake cable through the back plate) is nice and free and spins easily, as they do get stiff / seize up. You also need to ensure the handbrake ratchet self adjusters are fully released as they can move during assembly which expands the brake shoes slightly. It is easy to lift the upper part of the ratchet whilst in situ to release them again.
It is a lot easier to assemble the shoes, handbrake lever and lower springs off the car. It should be clear at this point which holes the springs locate in. This way you can flex the angle of the shoes which makes locating the lower springs a lot easier. The spring in your first photo runs along the handbrake lever on the outboard side of the shoe, and the square end hooks round the angled peg on the lever before locating the rounder hook into the shoe. You need to ensure the two rounded end of the handbrake operating lever are correctly located in the cut outs in the shoe and the lug is located in cut out of the large ratchet. The large curly end of the other lower spring is located on the outboard side of the shoe and the large hook goes through the shoe and sits by the larger ratchet of the self adjusters.
Once they are assembled off the car, you can offer them up to the car, feeding the end of the handbrake lever through the back plate, then partially spread the shoes round the hub into position. I then position the top of each shoe on the outside of the fixed shoe guide, which makes it easier to attach the top spring. Then spread the top shoes and locate them round the guide. Then put the retaining pins, springs and caps on. If you use pliers be careful that the caps don't ping off and get lost forever! I use a pair of long nose locking pliers but there are other ways such as using a small socket over the cap etc.
Make sure the self adjusting ratchet is still fully released, centralise the shoes by eye, and the drum should go on easily. If it doesn't, then check for anything not located correctly. Connect the handbrake, and if all's OK, you will hear the self adjusting mechanism click up when you operate the footbrake.
Easy...!
Register Member no. 1596
1967 Mk1 2000 in Gunmetal Grey
1969 Mk1 2000 in Royal Blue
1970 Mk2 2000 in Valencia Blue
1972 Mk2 2.5 PI in Triumph White
1973 Mk2 2.5 PI in Sienna Brown
1976 Mk2 2500S in Carmine Red
