Keeping the brakes free.

[Boomlander]

Hi all,
Because of work I don't get a lot of time to run our Minor on a regular basis.
Are there any tips to minimise the chance of the brake system seizing up while the car is standing idle.
Thanks.

[bmcecosse]

Leave the handbrake off! But the best tip is to remove each wheel cylinder piston and insert a dollop of red rubber grease - easy to find and cheap on ebay. Really though - if you can at least run the car in/out of the garage every week or so that will help greatly - run it long enough to warm the engine through. And over -inflate the tyres of course.

[philthehill]

One of the biggest mistake people make with Minor brakes (especially with cars that have little use) is that they have them adjusted up so tight that the piston when the brakes are applied moves very little inside the cylinder. To ensure that the piston has sufficient exercise to resist seizure the brakes should be adjusted so that the piston is allowed sufficient free movement.
Of course do not go the other way and have the brake pedal travel 3" before the shoes make contact with the drums - just use a bit of common sense.
Plenty of red grease around the piston helps considerably as recommended by bmc above.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CASTROL-RED-R ... SwKtlWq9-q

If you do leave the handbrake off do not forget to chock the wheels.
Never leave it in gear as it is easy to forget that it is in gear and pull/press/turn the starter button and the car shoots forward (or back) into goodness what.
Phil

[les]

----if you are prepared to renew the seals, which I suspect you are not if you have no time for the Minor, refill with silicone fluid, mine stands for ages with no brake issues. Weird I know but there are some folk who don't seem to agree !!

[bmcecosse]

That of course means ALL the seals - including the master cylinder - and the three flexi hose, and of course if there is a servo - the seals there too.... It's also not inexpensive fluid

[amgrave]

The fluid is more expensive yes but as you don't have to keep changing it, it works out the same cost with the added advantage of not seizing your brakes when not in use

[bmcecosse]

If you say so.... The cylinder pistons are not directly in contact with the brake fluid (although they are in disc brakes and the dreaded 'repro' front cylinders - which should be avoided) - so I'm not sure how it helps... Red rubber grease is THE simple inexpensive answer! I suggest it should still be used even if using the expensive fluid.

[amgrave]

Yes I took your advice and assembled with red grease, thanks for that. I think the problem is that brake fluid (like salt) attracts moisture and mixes with it so wherever the fluid is so is water. The silicone fluid does not attract nor mix with water. Just my best understanding of it

[Boomlander]

Many thanks for all your replies, I will do my best to run the car weekly, if only for a short distance and the red rubber grease sounds very promising.

[bmcecosse]

Obviously - don't take the car out if it's wet - and certainly not if there is any chance of salt on the road!