Recommissioning after long lay-up.

[SGTBILKO]

My four door Minor, after being left in a lock-up for nearly four years, is coming out of it's hiding place. The rear brakes are frozen in the on position (silly me left the hand brake on). I have decided to replace the very rusty drums, shoes and cylinders. My question is were to buy brake drums and do they vary in quality? Charlie seems to be asking more than DSN for example. I want the best but don't want to pay over the odds. The brake pedal is rock hard which seems to suggest that the master cylinder is seized. I don't want to start dismantling the car as we are moving house very soon. Although the rear brakes should be freed off in order that it can be loaded onto a trailor for the move. Any suggestions welcome.

[bmcecosse]

I suspect ALL the wheel cylinders will be locked solid - and likely the clutch will be frozen to the flywheel. Don't rush into new drums yet - till you find out everything you need. The drums may not be that bad! A rub up with emery should clean them up nicely. Don't even think about turning/starting the engine till you get some oil down the bores - then very gently try to turn it with the fan - back and forth... If it turns - then next move is to crank it round on the starter (for anything up to 30 seconds - so jump leads) till the oil pressure comes up - and then keep going for another 15/20 seconds. Only then is it safe to try to start it up. The fuel will be stale - you'll need fresh petrol to start it, although the stale petrol may run it ok once started.

[minor65]

I would strongly advise that you don't buy new brake drums, as of late they have been very poor quality. (Being more oval that the old ones). I would just try emery paper as BMC suggests. Or if you are getting a judder when braking, then just get them remachined at a local engineering shop.

[SGTBILKO]

Many thanks for the tips. The engine does turn over and the clutch is not seized, my negligence did not extend that far. The engine was started and run about once a month. I take the point about the drums and did wonder if they were any good. It seems a pity that someone goes to the trouble of turning out what is effectively scrap and even more so that they sell them for use on the public highway. Do they come from a far off country? I will start by changing the wheel cylinders and bleeding the system after the car is moved into it's new home. Regards, William.

[ManyMinors]

One of my Minors stood in its garage and never moved for 20years. When I put it back on the road I didn't need to replace any brake drums or even shoes. All the hydraulic cylinders and flexible hoses were thrown away as a matter of course however.

[SGTBILKO]

Here is an update on my hibernating Minor. After having installed the re-conditioned carb and with a fully charged battery she started very easily. Changing the carburettor was not really essential but the butterfly spindle needed re-bushing. The rear brakes were freed off via the adjusting screws. So now she can be driven onto the trailor for the house move which is imminent. The hydraulics need a complete overhaul so replacement of master and slave cylinders are called for. I haven't taken the drums off yet for inspection but they will most likely be kept along with the shoes which have seen very little use. So with that and a thourough service we should be on the road for the spring[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

Well done !

[SGTBILKO]

When I said spring in my previous posting I didn't mention which one because only now, after more than a year, work has been resumed on the car.
Work has started on the brakes and leaky cooling system. The front suspension and steering rack will need attention. The bushes on the tie bars look very tired and offside gaiter on the steering rack has some large holes. A complete rebush of the front suspension is planned together with new gaiters and track-rod ends as the rubbers have splits.

[SteveClem]

That doesn't sound too bad after a long hibernation.