Morris Minor Owners Club

I agree with everything said about 8" drum brakes on a standard Minor BUT fit disc brakes and reduce maintenance time and, probably, cost. Who wants to be freeing off/renewing brake cylinders every year or so and carrying out regular adjustment to stop on the proverbial sixpence?

Now, who will have the last word??

I agree with the above regarding the maintenance of 7" & 8" drum brakes - but even disc brakes are not totally maintenance free.
Lack of use can result in lazy pistons which do not retract as well as they should do which can result in an accelerated wearing of the disc pads and discs.
If you can - fit stainless steel calliper pistons.
Phil

My new 8 inch drums needed machining no quite round . Never had a problem even with a full load and a lot of hills in France this year . I like to drive as safe and as fast as the car will go best speed on sat nav this year 75MPH .

Might beat that next year as I have upgraded from 948 to 1275

No need to 'free off' cylinders every year - the secret is to use quality parts, and to put a goodly blob of Red Rubber Grease in each cylinder (or caliper!) piston as you assemble the brakes. Works well.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Castrol-Red-R ... xyhodRue3g

Having the shoe of the drum brake fully adjusted so that the brake cylinder piston travels the minimum distance is not good for brake cylinders and brake cylinder pistons that have limited use.
The piston needs to be fully and regularly exercised and that can only be done if the brake shoes are backed off sufficiently.
Yes have the red grease liberally applied around the piston and cylinder but also do not have the brake shoes contacting the drums when the brake pedal is released.
The brake drum should be able to rotate with out any contact with the brake shoe.
If the car is put into storage for say the winter - slacken off the brake adjusters fully and every few weeks press the brake pedal. That exercises the brake pedal/master cylinder and brake cylinders which keeps the pistons free in the cylinders.
Re-adjust the brakes correctly when retuning the car to general use.

------- or use silicone fluid!

OH Les, what have you said

By all means use Silicone fluid - if you think it helps. But be aware it needs ALL new rubber parts - so new cylinders/master cylinder/flexi pipes - and servo if you have one. It costs a small fortune - is sometimes tricky to bleed - and has a tendency to a slightly soft pedal. No new car manufacturer uses it.....

My van failed its MOT today on brakes. I am bit annoyed as the garage that MOTed it sorted the brakes 3 months ago and its only done about 200 miles.

The garage phoned me and said two cylinders were seized and he is replacing them had hope to get van back soon.