Brake Maintenance and Upgrades

[gucu]

Hi All

Having just bought a Minor I am doing some maintenance and upgrades. I have just overhauled the ignition system and carb and am moving onto the brakes. I am upgrading to disc brakes and am thinking that before I do so I need to do some maintenance on the existing system. This is what I am hoping to do:

1. Replace rear wheel and master cylinders and rear shoes. Check brakes lines. Should I replace fluid, does it get old please?
2. Fit a servo and remote reservoir

Do these two together along with an alternator conversion and halogen upgrade. (This car will be my daily driver).

3. Once above completed fit disc brake kit.

Any thoughts please?

Thanks

Rich

[svenedin]

My Morris was my daily driver for many years and I never saw any reason to change from drum brakes and dynamo. I think you are being too hasty to change things when you have only just got the car.

Dot 4 glycol based brake fluid is hygroscopic meaning it absorbs water from the atmosphere. That water builds up over time and it can cause corrosion in the braking system. The Morris system is especially prone to corrosion and seizing of the rear brake cylinders. In extreme cases, so much water builds up in the brake fluid that when it gets hot it can boil.

If you have no service records then it would be wise to replace the brake fluid (which should be done every 2 years anyway unless the system uses Dot 5 Silicone brake fluid).

As regards replacing cylinders, brake shoes and the master cylinder this all depends on what condition they are in. You will need to remove the brake drums on all 4 corners and inspect the brakes. Check the condition of the drum and the brake shoes, clean out brake dust (do not blow the dust out as old shoes may contain asbestos, use a rag and brake cleaner, wear a mask), check for any leaks from the cylinders, adjust the brakes.

Stephen

[gucu]

Thanks Stephen. I'll do that as a minimum.

[Bill_qaz]

If you're going to fit disc brakes the master cylinder needs to be modified so do them together.