Morris Minor Owners Club

Just replaced all the trunniony bits up front on both sides.
Fitted new windscreen, having cleaned up the hole... washed the car...

And then...

Drum roll....

A front wheel cylinder 'poohed the bed' on its way to work today.
First time its been driven in weeks, I've been driving one of them awful VW beetle things.

And, to top it all. there's never an easily-swingable leafy branch about when you need one!

First time its been driven in weeks, I've been driving one of them awful VW beetle things.

Serves you right then. Sheesh! what a betrayal! I hope you didn't allow your Mog to see you driving it you heartbreaker.

Sounds a bit worrying! Did the wheel cylinder seal break up or something? Did it cause complete brake failure? I'm currently restoring the brakes on my girlfriends Minor (on a low budget!) and was hoping to free up and re-use the jammed cylinders but now you've got me worried.

was hoping to free up and re-use the jammed cylinders but now you've got me worried.

If they are jammed as you say that will probably be down to rust in the bores is so you will have to replace them.

There were NO wheel cylinder seals left. lol.. So yes, they broke up due to age - the remains of them were brittle and cracked.

Nothing really to worry about though. Even if they fail (like mine did) you still have limited braking - until all the fluid's leaked out of course!

You can free-up and re-use old cylinders but I'd just rather have new ones to be honest. (I rebuilt a clutch slave that failed on a mini once and it worked perfectly).
You'll need to examine the cylinder parts to see if the inside casing or piston are scratched or corroded. If they are they're only fit for the bin.

BTW, I was only driving the beetle whilst the Morris was off-road. I needed to replace all my trunnions and only had the evenings in which to do them. This is why it was so frustrating to have something else fail on the first day back on the road. Still, one less thing to fail in future.

Even if they fail (like mine did) you still have limited braking - until all the fluid's leaked out of course!

Unless one fails while braking and you end up careering sideways across the road through a hedge and flipping onto your side......i miss my moggy

Unless one fails while braking and you end up careering sideways across the road through a hedge and flipping onto your side....

I can see how that would be very cross-making.

i miss my moggy

Get another one! They're cheap as chips on fleabay.

After putting mine all back together yesterday lunchtime the difference is amazing. Its instantly apparent that the brakes have never worked properly on that side anyway. One shoe worn - one not was a bit of a clue.

Now if I stamp on them they both lock up!