Brakes question from novice!

Post by **Mogster** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:18 am

Distinct lack of brakes on my Morris which had been standing six years before I bought it. Pedal was actually on the floor when I got the car and attempts to try and pump it resulted in naff all action of the brakes!
Before I go diving in (I'm not experienced at all with these things) is there a likely cause of this and where is the master cylinder please? Probably because I'm daft but couldn't see it under the bonnet and had wondered if the fluid was absent or something.
As I said if there's any likely problem with brakes or achilles heels could someone please put me right? Wheels turn freely incidentally so brakes not seized on.
Thanks in advance and apologies for all the questions.

Post by **PSL184** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:42 am

Your master cylinder is under the drivers floor. If you lift the carpets you will see a rectangular piece of metal screwed to the main floor. You must remove this to get at the cylinder itself although there is a rubber cap over a hole to enable fluid top up. In my experiance - any brake system that has been left standing for 6 years will need everything replacing on safety grounds.....

Post by **Mogster** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:50 am

Many thanks, brakes will be fully sorted before any road use, it's just to enable movement in/out of garage for now once car is running.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:54 am

Good news is - the parts are not expensive compared to 'modern' cars. First job really is to remove the wheels and the brake drums - and see how much of a mess presents at each brake. But really - I would suggest all new shoes and new cylinders - although hopefully that master cylinder will be ok. It's not easy or cheap to renew it! You should seriously consider 3 new flexible brake pipes - and very possibly new 'bundy' pipes throughout the car. You will then have new brakes all round which should be trouble-free for a year or two at least! I must also suggest you search out a Haynes Manual for your Minor (Library may have one) and read it from cover to cover. the official BMC workshop manual is available 'online' free - so no need to buy one of them. I don't have the link - i'm sure someone will come along soon with that link!

Post by **Mogster** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:42 am

Thanks, workshop manual definately top/near top of list and if anyone has a link to the online for now I'd be very grateful.
I think we will start at the rear remove wheels and drums and check condition as you said. Saw new shoes oon eBay for about £17.00 and iIrc cylinders weren't too expensive either. Will check condition and replce pipes if needed, hopefully will get some help on that from a mechanic neighbour. What we'd like to do is do the repairs we're not sure of ourselves whilst someone experienced watches us as we'll learn better that way plus take more pleasure from the project of course.
Is there a repair kit for the master cylinder do you happen to know please or should I try and find a new cylinder if it does turn out to be u/s?
Thanks once again, much appreciated.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:37 pm

£17 for rear shoes is expensive, well I think so anyway !!!!!!!!! Check up Bull Motif for spares prices http://www.bullmotif.com/ but there are others - maybe one near you to avoid paying carriage.
Master cylinder repair kit is often a waste of money due to rust on the internal bore - so, if it really won't work I would humbly suggest a new one. But do all the rest of the brakes first - it will probably be ok.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:33 pm

Very useful tips on brakes:

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/index.php?name=P ... pic&t=8563

Post by **PSL184** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:20 pm

I seriously would not buy wheel cylinders off ebay - you have no chance of knowing where they came from of how they have been stored. You could be buying scrap. Parts are not expensive. Bull Motif do everything to re do the brakes completely except for the master cylinder for about £90 and a master cylinder is £60. Not much money for safetyand assurance......

Post by **Mogster** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:30 pm

That seems a very fair price indeed and I appreciate tips like using Bull Motif as I wouldn't have known about this kind of thing.
I did read somewhere recently that AWC Minors (my nearest specialist I think) are closing down and elling off loads of stock so they might be worth a try for some odd bits I could dow ith like trim etc.

Post by **PSL184** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:50 pm

The Bull Motif website is a good site to browse as you get an idea of parts prices and what parts you need. They also do specials to where the sell complete kits of parts for say brakes, front suspension, rear springs etc - usually cheaper than buying individual parts. Just remember to add VAT to the prices and also shipping costs if you're not collecting.... I have used them alot and although there have been some little mistakes with sending out wrong parts they have always corrected the problem without fuss. They also ship very quickly!!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:23 pm

I did read somewhere recently that AWC Minors (my nearest specialist I think) are closing down

The guy who did their website came on a few years back to place adverts on here many times( trade ads not allowed) as he was leaving the Minor market.
I'm surprised if he carried on going for a while as they were pushing stock out pretty rapidly.

There are some very good mail order specialists around - either take your pick of those shown in the club mag or do a bit of internet research. Many offer a web based ordering system, and one or 2 are really good if that's what you want.

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:02 pm

AWC is now Chester Sportscars, specialising in Kit cars, they did this having left the Minor scene many years ago. Infact several traders have moved away from Minors to the likes of MX5's etc.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:21 pm

I've found in the past that 'web-ordering' tended to be slow - and telephone ordering received priority - and generally same day despatch with next day delivery. So I suggest - look on the web and make up your list of parts - then phone in the order!

Post by **alex_holden** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:54 pm

bmcecosse wrote:I've found in the past that 'web-ordering' tended to be slow - and telephone ordering received priority - and generally same day despatch with next day delivery. So I suggest - look on the web and make up your list of parts - then phone in the order!

That's not the case with ESM. I always order through the website and the delivery nearly always arrives the next working day. Much less hassle than reading out a long list of parts over the phone IMHO.