Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi everyone,

i`ve just bought a 1966 Morris Minor 1000 4-door saloon for restoration. The main problem is that when I`ve driven the car (on private property of course) the brakes have been a little on the 'tight' side (in the sense that the car won`t accelerate too greatly compared to normal), but the main problem is that the brake pedal is almost completely solid. I have to really put all my weight behind it to get the car to slow down. the car actually does slow down quite well, so I don`t think there is anything major wrong with the brakes. The car had been laid up for 18 months before I got it.

Anyone got any ideas what may be causing the pedal to be solid?

Thanks

michael

Minors don't accelerate too greatly - they get faster slowly if you are lucky !!
Your brakes are probably seized up - can you easily push the car by hand on a flat surface ? You need to remove the brake drums one by one - and inspect what you find.

The car can be pushed, but is a little on the difficult side. I`ll have to spend the day on it taking all the drums off and make sure everything is okay. Someone said that the pedal could be a bit on the hard side becuase silicon brake fluid may have been used - soes that sound right?!?!

Someone said that the pedal could be a bit on the hard side becuase silicon brake fluid may have been used - soes that sound right?!?!

Most people struggle to bleed the brakes with silicon brake fluid but in experienced hands it can be ok - generally silicon will give a LESS firm pedal.

Most likely is that the drums are a bit rusty and this is causing some/most of the extra friction.
Also failry likely is that some of the wheel cylinders have stuck solid. This will cause the pedal to be more firm than usual and will also cause poor braking.

Adfter driving half a dozen miles or so, leave the brakes to cool for at least an hour. Then check on a 'dirt road' (on this private property...)that all wheels lock up at about the same time. If only 2 or 3 wheels lock up, them most likely is that the wheels that do not lock will be where you need to fix things first.

Jack up each wheel and see if any are difficult to turn. Then press the foot
brakes really hard and see if any wheels are now difficult to turn. Any sticking wheels, unless all four are now dragging, indicate sticky wheel cylinders on
that particular wheel. If all four are sticking then you could have a partially
seized brake pedal or a wrongly adjusted Master Cylinder.(If the brake pedal
does not return COMPLETELY to its rest position then it could cause a build up
of pressure in the brake pipes) you can prove this by opening one of the bleed nipples and see if the dragging disappears.