Morris Minor Owners Club

Can anyone tell me if the piece of the brakedrum that faces up to the hub is cast iron, same as the actual drum itself.

Do you mean the backing plate? As far as I'm aware it's pressed steel, quite substantial steel if it's an original one.

Thank you Dean. I didn't think it was made from cast, Don't suppose you know how thick it is, offhand?

backing plates are indeed pressed stell

can i ask why u want to know

Backing plates - the part with the cylinders and the shoes - are presed steel. The brake drum - the part the shoes rub against - is cast iron - all of it! And quite fragile so don't hit it too hard!

No, I dont mean the brake backplate. I mean the part of the brake drum that fits over the studs and with the 2 recessed holes in that the screws fasten the drums to the hub.

^^^ Cast iron !

No, I dont mean the brake backplate. I mean the part of the brake drum that fits over the studs ....

The part that rotates with the wheel (the dish shaped drum) is a single piece.

Yes, it's a single piece of cast iron. You can lightly machine it to true up the bore that makes contact with the shoes, but do not attempt to weld it. Cast is brittle and the grain structure does not possess the properties that give a good adhesive weld.

but do not attempt to weld it. Cast is brittle and the grain structure does not possess the properties that give a good adhesive weld.

I agree Dean but why would someone even attempt to weld a brake drum.

Kevin wrote:why would someone even attempt to weld a brake drum.

Have you ever watched Scrapheap Challenge?

Kevin wrote:

but do not attempt to weld it. Cast is brittle and the grain structure does not possess the properties that give a good adhesive weld.

I agree Dean but why would someone even attempt to weld a brake drum.

What's the betting someone has tried it.

OK,OK. I hold my hand up. Made a slight miscalculation with wide wheels. The tyre are just rubbing on top trunnion. So I thought if I could find my old rear drums I could take them to an engineering shop and have the drum bit parted from the flat bit. Instant spacer.

That is the theory. Unless someone knows otherwise?

In theory it would work but spacers are usually made of alloy and you would of course need longer studs I would think...?

I haven't measured how thick they want to be yet (dark when I get home) will do that on Sat.am. But am hoping I may get away using existing studs.
If not i thought about contacting Birmingham Morrie Centre. If they do alloy wheels surely they must do longer studs?

Yes, they do along with most of the other suppliers. Not difficult to change but obviously vital if you reduce the amount of thread you have available for your nuts!

Longer studs are easy - sold for Minis all over the place. Just make your spacer from flat plate - how much depth do you think you need Ian ? If only 1/8" then probably ok with standard studs - anything more - better fit longer!
http://www.minisport.com/acatalog/Mini_Wheel_Studs.html

I have a couple of spare spacers hanging around, if your studs are the standard Minor spacing - you'd be welcome to them if any use to you?

wibble_puppy wrote:I have a couple of spare spacers hanging around, if your studs are the standard Minor spacing - you'd be welcome to them if any use to you?

If you take Wibble up on her offer we should be able to get them to you without postage too.

Thank you very much for your kind offer Wibble, I will take you up on it please. Thank you as well Alex.
Ian.