Abstract: A parking brake actuating mechanism in which a first lever (11) acts on a first brake shoe web (13) and a second lever (15) pivoted on the first lever (11) acts on a second brake shoe web (17). The first lever (11) includes an actuating cable abutment formation (31′) against which an actuating cable nipple (28) on the free end of a cable (25) is drawn to move the first lever to increase the effective length of the mechanism and hence move the associated brake shoes. The first lever (11) is of hollow form defining a guide passage (29) which directs the free end of the cable from an aperture (24) in the backplate (23) of the associated brake to a location adjacent the abutment formation (31′) to enable the nipple (28) to be engaged with the formation (31′). A portion (11′) of the first lever outside the guide passage (29) may guide the cable from the end of the passage towards the abutment formation (31′).

Abstract: A brake adjuster comprises a variable length strut (16) having two end portions (30, 31) and an intermediate portion (32) therebetween which is in screw threaded engagement with one of the end portions (31). A pawl (39) is attached to the other end portion (30) and engages an array of ratchet teeth (38) the intermediate portion (32). As the end portions of the strut (30, 31) move apart during a brake application the pawl (39) rides up a flank of a ratchet tooth (38a) and if the movement apart exceeds a predetermined amount engages behind the tooth (38a). When the end portions (30, 31) move towards each other in the next brake disengagement, the intermediate portion (32) is rotated relative to said one of the end portions (31) to increase the effective length of the strut (16). The pawl (39) may be bi-metallic and arranged to disengage the ratchet teeth (38) if the temperature of the adjuster rises above a predetermined level.