Advice on brakes

[Propshaft]

I am thinking of fitting disc brakes to my Morris minor van , I have read all the wrightups on the message board and am now totally confused being has I have a van and not a race car do I go for the cheaper marina set up or the more expensive ford based one . I have been keeping an eye out for Riley or Woolsley brakes but no luck . Your comments would be appreciated

[aupickup]

the mariner set up is a good one, I had those on a van and they were fine

[ManyMinors]

I've got Morris Minor brakes on mine and they're fine too!
What is wrong with the brakes you already have?

[bmcecosse]

As above - the later 8" brakes in good condition are more than adequate for any sane Minor motoring.

[Propshaft]

I have owned and used classics all my life ( I am a now collecting my state pension) and in today's motoring world I think disc brakes are a must have upgrade . I have not yet tried the brakes in standard trim as the vehicle is not as yet serviceable but can only assume they cannot be as efficient as a modern disc brake set up . Thanks for your comments

[martin418]

personally i can't fault the 8'' std morris set up which i fitted to my 55 S2 , i used new quality cylinders and an old stock set of unipart shoes , i have not even needed to re adjust any of the brakes in nearly 3000 miles and the 1st emergency stop i had to make from 40 mph supprised me in just how well it stopped .

[SteveClem]

I prefer my standard Minor drum brakes to the appalling over servo'd setup on my wife's Golf!

[aupickup]

in todays motoring I think disc brakes re a sensible upgrade, especially as modern vehicles can stop on a sixpence if they overtake you and suddenly stop

[amgrave]

Don't forget that the reason modern cars brake a bit better than oldies is because of the tyres not so much the brakes. Newer cars have a lot more tread on the road than standard Minors. After rebuilding my brakes with all new parts and quality brake shoes I feel it brakes as well as new cars, admittedly I have to press a bit harder on the peddle but that is to be expected. It will do a dry surface skid no problem. You need to think tyres more than brakes and that is not so easy to solve though. You can upgrade your brakes so a feather will lock them up but if the tyres can't grip it is wasted.

[aupickup]

a morris minor with standard brakes and even wide wheels and tyres to suit will not brake as good as a modern
try it someday when modern suddenly brakes in front of you , you will go straight into the back of the vehicle

[amgrave]

Not without a moderns tyres, no

[liammonty]

a morris minor with standard brakes and even wide wheels and tyres to suit will not brake as good as a modern
try it someday when modern suddenly brakes in front of you , you will go straight into the back of the vehicle

To be fair, you should always keep sufficient distance from the vehicle in front to be able to stop without hitting it. Different cars have different stopping distances

I guess there's a slim chance that if you try an emergency stop from 70 mph (which frankly you'd be unlikely to be doing in a van due to the noise and the gearing) you may get some brake fade with standard drums. Likewise, for rallying in the Alps, I'd be the first to advocate large vented discs as with repeated hard braking, the drum brakes will fade. However, if the standard brakes are in good condition (which most aren't) you can lock the wheels without too much bother, and stop quickly from speed. As amgrave says, this suggests that grip is the limiting factor - not the brakes! Of course, discs do have advantages, like less maintenance, and less likelihood of fading due to heat, but it's not true that they're more efficient than drums - it's actually the reverse, as discs require greater pedal effort for the same amount of braking force. Drums with twin leading shoes, like those in the Minor front brakes, actually have a 'self-servo' effect due to the direction of wheel rotation helping with the braking effort by 'pulling' the shoe on slightly harder. I would try them out before spending loads on a disc setup, as on a standard car (in my opinion) they are more than up to the job. Granted, everyone has different opinions though. On a modified car (i.e. with increased performance), upgrades to the brakes are definitely a good idea!

[aupickup]

agreed about stopping distance but moderns will allways slip in front so you give more distance and so on especially on motorways which I used to do quite often

[trunion]

With new or unworn drums and new Lockheed cylinders all round I have found the original Minor drum brakes quite adequate if the vehicle is driven according to it's age, the modern more efficient braking systems spoil us for stopping distances.

One of the main problems I have found are the wheel cylinder pistons part seizing up through standing, I put a smear of red grease on these and whip the wheels off to check the cylinders are free and readjust after standing over the winter.

Since going back to the old asbestos linings these make a big difference, the modern lining material is far too hard, some might shudder at the word asbestos but if handled correctly I personally don't have a problem with it.

[bmcecosse]

As all the others have said - the limitation is tyre-to-road grip, not the drum brakes which are more than capable of stopping the car. Of course - more power and intended high speed motoring will justify better braking, but as has been suggested - invest the money first in better wheels and tyres, and make sure the 8" drum brakes are in good condition.

[Propshaft]

Thanks for all your comments I am going to spend the money on conventional hub brakes and see how I go or rather stop

[panky]

Yep I can confirm 8" drums a perfectly adequate for the standard wheels



The kink in the skid marks is where the other car hit me Soon after I fitted wider wheels and tyres for more rubber on the road.

[1098]

Changed my front brakes to 8". Used as much NOS as I could find. If you do the job right they are fine. Done six years ago,it will stand on it's nose. Despite the confidence I have with the brakes,I always make eye contact with drivers waiting to emerge at junctions ![frame][/frame]

[John Naylor]

It isn't just the size of the contact patch but the quality of rubber. Cheaper tyres have less grip, modern tyres are rated for grip but apparently some eastern imports are giving themselves 'A' ratings which equate to a European 'E'! Another major factor is the age of the tyres, after 6 years they become rather wooden and braking distance is increased enormously. Bertie's tyres were over 20 years old when I bought him and I thought the brakes were excellent as I could easily lock the wheels.......
As above, standard 8" brakes are very good but need maintaining, quality, standard 145 tyres are also very good but need replacing when old.
John

[amgrave]

A correctly set up Minor, as it should be anyway does not need the brakes uprated. It's only when you start increasing the speed and weight of it beyond factory spec you need to think of uprating the brakes including the wheels and tyres of course.