Rear brake balance Ambassador

I would inspect both sets of rear brake internals to see that that parts are matching, side to side and that the primary and secondary brake shoes are mounted correctly.  Are the backing plates the same?  Do you have equivalent wear on the brake shoes?  I understand that you have already assured yourself that there is no oil contamination.  I am just mentioned things that I would check. Why do you say there is no manual adjustment on the rear brakes?  Joe

Yes, taken a set, that could be about the size of it. Everything is well greased including the cable, and it's not greased over old rust because there's so much oil under there it looks as if it's never been rusty.

There's no manual adjustment on these drums. They self-adjust, in reverse. Generally I'm more accustomed to drums that have to be manually adjusted like on my Land Rover where there's a rotary wedge. The problem there is eithar the adjusters get rusted or rounded off by goons with the wrong size spanner, but at least there is provision for correcting imbalance side to side.

Reading the Pass requirements, it says if the parking brake will lock one wheel, that's OK. So hopefully it will be OK.
I'm sure the brakes haven't been messed with, we don't have a pool of parts over here to mix and match and muddle. Which on the whole is probably a good thing.

Ivor

Yes, but only to release a ridged drum for instance, or to take up the initial slack after the brakes have been apart.
Once the car is in use the brakes will inexorably adjust themselves as they see fit, unless one refrains from using them in reverse.

Ivor

You can still adjust the brakes manually. The auto adjusters might get them out of balance again after a time, but at least you can get through testing. I'd take that cable out of the U-shaped balance bar and make sure it's free there as well. 

Gotta do what ya gotta do sometimes... The government means well, but it usually leans toward protecting idiots from themselves more than anything else...