Improving 205 rear drum brake performance

[205alex]

Last year my 205 failed its mot on the service brake efficiency specifically for the rear brakes being weak.
The rear brake cyclinders were changed at which point it was able to pass with 80 odd kgf of brake force.

this year however it has failed again measuring roughly 40 kgf at each rear wheel

Ive had the drums off today and given everything a clean but was wondering about other ways to improve them ?

They are of the bendix type drum brakes.

Many thanks

[RichardW]

Does it have some sort of load sensing valve?

[PaulC5]

Is there a wear ridge in the drums, if so that needs filing off. When you clean the drums it helps to get the glaze off the drums and shoes using approx 180 grit emery paper. After you clean the adjusters a bit of copper grease on the threads will help them turn. They also need to be adjusted correctly and the hand brake cable set so the levers on the shoes are against the shoe or just slightly off. If not like this the auto adjusters will not work - assuming they are similar to the ones on the C3. The auto adjusters (if like the C3) should be set so the drum just catches the shoes and once the drum is back on pump the pedal and use the hand brake a lot so the last bit of adjustment is taken up.

It might also be there is some air in the brake fluid that needs bleeding out, especially since you have replaced the rear cylinders.

[Oldpug]

This was a known problem with these old 205 rear brakes. Back in my day I always used to struggle to get them through the MOT.
First off make sure the compensator valve ( if you have one?) is free. The lever can seize up or the spring can fall off.
As mentioned, get rid of the drum wear ridge. Good quality O/E brake shoes, click up the self adjusters a bit with a screw driver until the drum just gets on, bleed the brakes.

Mind you if you are really adventurous, handy with the spanners, and the 205 is a nice one. Fit a complete rear axle assembly from a 205GTi with discs.

[RichardW]

Can you get green stuff shoes or something? Couple of paving slabs in the boot, and give it a good hard work out on the way to the rest to get them hot / well bedded in