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Brake Upgrade, ideas reqd

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 3:59 pm
by d_harris
I've started thinking about restotrav again after having spent some quality time with him (welding up the inner wings!)

I've got a marina disc setup for the front. But is there anything that I can do to the rears to try and balance it up a bit?

I was wondering if it was possible to adapt the 8" drums from the front, or even the 9" Wolsley setup?

I'm guessing the difficulty would be the handbrake?

With Marina Discs upfront I am definatly going to be using a servo!

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:54 pm
by GAS
I would not bother with replacing the rear brakes.
Unless you need a much stronger axle that come with bigger brakes.
But the servo is a must or you will need a very strong right boot.
Putting on MGB calipers instead of the marina ones will double the size of the brake pads.

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:17 pm
by wanderinstar
The 9" Wolseley brakes are from the front. The rears are 8". you will definatly need the Wolseley backplate. but you can use the Minor front drums, shoes and wheel cylinders. The bracket for the handbrake cable has to be bent slightly, due to the cylinders being at the 20 too position instead of 1/4 too.

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:58 pm
by d_harris
So I would be able to have 8" rear drums with a wolsley backplate? I know the 9" ones are from the front, just wondering if there was a way to adapt them, thats all.

Cheers for the input Ian and GAS.

Might try and track down some MGB calipers too

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:16 pm
by bmcecosse
You can fit the bigger rear brakes - but unless for competition use it's really not necessary. I had them on my Rally Minor - great for handbrake turns - but on my current road car the standard rear brakes lock the wheels (both with foot and with hand lever) - and so that's perfectly adequate for any sane road use! If you fit a servo - you may need to fit a pressure limiting valve in the line to the rear brakes - or consider only fitting the servo to the front brakes, although this may be too much front/too little rear bias.