Fitting new brakes and cylinders
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Fitting new brakes and cylinders
I'm fitting new brakes and cylinders for the 1st time, is this correct ? Before I move on I'd sooner check i am doing it right
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Last edited by ttwlr on Tue Nov 04, 2025 12:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- svenedin
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Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Looks OK. I can't see the pull-off springs very well. These are not symmetrical. You have correctly fitted them behind the shoes but I cannot tell if they are the right way up. There is a long spiral spring part and a short spiral part with a straight wire in between. The short spiral spring part goes nearest the piston. The idea is that the piston cannot foul on the spiral spring bit.
The picture is of Wolseley 1500 front brakes but the same principle applies.
Stephen
The picture is of Wolseley 1500 front brakes but the same principle applies.
Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.
Stephen
Stephen
Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Both my springs are the same in looks
Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Mime are same as this
- svenedin
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Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Ah! The 7" front brake springs are symmetrical. The 8" front springs are not or at least what is currently being sold isn't.
https://www.morrisminorspares.com/brake ... es-p829440
https://www.morrisminorspares.com/brake ... es-p829441
Stephen
https://www.morrisminorspares.com/brake ... es-p829440
https://www.morrisminorspares.com/brake ... es-p829441
Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.
Stephen
Stephen
Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
So I'm good to go as they are ?
- svenedin
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Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Looks fine to me.
Stephen
Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.
Stephen
Stephen
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myoldjalopy
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Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Looks good to me too. As a tip, its always a good idea when doing jobs that require dismantling for the first time to take a photo/photos.
- geoberni
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Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Although, always good to check the manual just in case the previous owner fitted something incorrectly in the past.....myoldjalopy wrote: ↑Tue Nov 04, 2025 4:13 pm Looks good to me too. As a tip, its always a good idea when doing jobs that require dismantling for the first time to take a photo/photos.
Basil the 1955 series II


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myoldjalopy
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Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Yeah, that can - and does - happen, for sure 
- svenedin
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Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Definitely. There's a guy on the FB group asking about brakes and his brakes are definitely not standard Minor drum brakes. I don't know what vehicle they came from!
Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.
Stephen
Stephen
Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Fixed now ignore this lol
Fitting passenger side fronts, but can't get drum back on, adjusters on minimum, what am I doing wrong?
Update, looking at pic two,looks like cylinders not closed fully ?
Fitting passenger side fronts, but can't get drum back on, adjusters on minimum, what am I doing wrong?
Update, looking at pic two,looks like cylinders not closed fully ?
- svenedin
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Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Bottom shoe way off centre, adjuster slipped sideways but you've fixed it now anyway.
Now you have the drums back on, push the brake pedal down hard a few times. This helps to centralise the shoes before you try to use the shoe adjusters.
Stephen
Now you have the drums back on, push the brake pedal down hard a few times. This helps to centralise the shoes before you try to use the shoe adjusters.
Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.
Stephen
Stephen
Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
What I did was undo the bolts a bit holding the cylinders and drum when straight on, I then tightened them up, just the rears to do, I'll do them Saturday as want on brake cleaner.
Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Dont get that solution ! The shoes were way off being central, (see your picture) However if its now ok, good.
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myoldjalopy
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Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Umm...they just needed a bit of wiggling/jiggling to get everything lined up properly.
- geoberni
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Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Yeah... Whether double or single piston layout, or with shoes top/bottom or left/right, all I've ever done is hold the drum slightly further towards the car at one of the spots where the 2 shoes end, i.e a piston. With that part of the drum a few millimetres onto the shoes, press across and in at the opposite side to centralise on the shoes, them adjust the position to line up with the studs...
That sounds more complicated than it is.
Basil the 1955 series II


Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Thank for feedback, I'm just glad it went on it the end lol
Not done rears yet, looking to do them Sunday
Not done rears yet, looking to do them Sunday
- svenedin
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Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
Good luck. I find the rears considerably more difficult than the front. The pull-off springs are very strong and the beehive springs are an absolute pain to fit. Allow more time than on the front.
I found that after replacing the cylinders (but not the shoes as well) that the handbrake needed adjusting. See workshop manual for how to adjust the handbrake correctly if required.
Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.
Stephen
Stephen
Re: Fitting new brakes and cylinders
That's for that advice, and that spring looks like trouble, it's a beast of spring, no doubt I'll be cursing some doing these 
svenedin wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 11:54 amGood luck. I find the rears considerably more difficult than the front. The pull-off springs are very strong and the beehive springs are an absolute pain to fit. Allow more time than on the front.
I found that after replacing the cylinders (but not the shoes as well) that the handbrake needed adjusting. See workshop manual for how to adjust the handbrake correctly if required.
Stephen