Morris Minor Owners Club

Just put a washer under the bolt head..... BMC only put them in the way they did for ease of assembly on the Line !

OK. Decision made. I'm going to keep the bolts as they are, the easy way round. There's so much else to do this is a minor concern (pun intended). When the entire braking system is back together and working I might swap them round just to satisfy my OCD. So pleased we are still a United Kingdom. I trained in medicine in Edinburgh and I could scarcely believe what was happening.

Over 2 million of us are glad too!

I had a look at the front brakes. The bolts that hold the cylinders in are horrendously rusted. In general the front brakes are in a much worse state than the rear. I've ordered new bolts so that's an excuse to do something else tomorrow. In fact, I've started refurbishing a rocker cover I bought on ebay. It's one with a breather pipe outlet so that I can hook up a "Y" piece (this is in another thread). I spent the evening stripping off multiple lays of paint; the most recent being hammerite silver (yuk).

When I was putting the rear brakes back together I noticed a weep of clean oil from where the drive shaft flange joins the hub. I presume there is a seal there and when the wheel and drum is off the flange is only held on by one screw. I hope that there is no leak when the flange is compressed tight by the drum. If a seal has gone that means the half shaft has to come out then I'm in a pickle because the car is stuck in the garage and the walls are too close to get the half shaft out (not that I know how to do it anyway).

You undo the screw - and pull... Good news is - it can wait till you get the car out in the open.......

BMC fitted the bolts that way round for ease of assembly on the production line. If you fit a washer or two under the head then the bolt will clear the torsion bar.

Still haven't got to the master cylinder job yet. I was under the car today replacing the handbrake cables. Definitely needs someone up top for this job. Rather fiddly getting the cable guide plate inside the transmission tunnel back on. Needs small fingers with the prop shaft in the way. Anyway, done now. We have some brakes!

Whilst I was under the car I noticed that the brake pipe is protected by a rubber sheath where it emerges near the chassis rail. I didn't investigate further but I wonder whether this was put on before the brake pipe was flared. Since I am using a kunifer kit from automec what should I use to protect the pipe? I could use rubber hose, split lengthwise and glued on with contact adhesive or use cables ties. Is there such a pipe with the right inside diameter? Or should I do something else?

It is protected where it passes over the gearbox rear support crossmember - just slide a length of rubber pipe on before you fit the new pipe ! I doubt glueing will last two minutes.....

It will have to be a bit oversize pipe because it needs to go over the pre-fitted connectors but there is a bend there so it won't go wandering off. I had the carpets up to do the handbrake (and seats out). Checked the gearbox I think is caput. Oil level fine but I put a highly magnetised screwdriver down into the oil. Came out furry with iron filings. Gearbox is toast as predicted.

I wouldn't despair of the gearbox - change the oil and see how it is... Many 'cheat' when fitting new brake pipes and run them under (or around) the crossmember. Under is obviously a problem if/when you need to drop the crossmember......

Yes worth a go and I can look for bits of gears in what comes out. Years since I've topped up a gearbox. What's the recommended spec/availability for the oil? My small dog sneaked into the garage this evening and I found him perched in the passenger seat expecting a ride. I think he is a bit ahead of himself. What he doesn't know (or maybe he does) is that one of his spaniel forebears (and an Alsatian) used to think it a great treat to go for a drive with the top down. Luckily they never tried to jump out.

Original spec was SAE 30 engine oil. Most use 20W50 these days.

Excellent. That's easy