Morris Minor Owners Club

Got hold of a set of 9" front brakes which will fit the Minor, not sure if these Wolseley or Riley - the shoes are 2 1/4" wide, anyone know? They look huge

Sounds like Riley - the W brakes are not that wide. If the adjusters are external - on the backplate - then definitely Riley. Good find! But they will probably 'overbarke' the front wheels realtive to the rears, unless you also fit larger (8") rear brakes.

Thanks bmc, adjusters on backplate so Riley, thought they looked big...don't have the hubs, I guess the Minor ones are identical?

Yes they will fit the Minor hubs but are a bit of an overkill on a standard Minor.....

Yes - same hubs !

Hmm thinking what to do now they do seem massive I am going to uprate the standard 1098 a bit with a view to getting an extra 7-10 hp or so but if they are going to lock the wheels up solid too easily maybe not such a good idea

Standard brakes will still stop you with an extra 10 bhp....

I am wondering whether the insurance company will expect an upgrade in the braking department though with a lightly modded car, i.e

3.7 diff, 12g940 head, oselli inlet, hif 38, marina ex mani, big bore exhaust, k and n filter, wider wheels (that's the plan so far) - poly bushes and pads it already has

I've put a 1275 in mine and they didn't ask me for any other upgrades to brakes, suspension etc and no increase in premium either....

Who are you with if you don't mind me asking? I will need everyday use and up to 10k per annum for mine. I'm on regular insurance at the moment and when this runs out will do the mods and swap insurers

I ran a Riley set up for years - never had any 'overbraking' problems. Nowadays, spares are more pricey for Riley parts, and even 25 years ago I couldn't get shoes easily off the shelf (used A60 shoes - slightly bigger but fitted). I transferred the Riley brakes onto my wife's Minor as I'd upgraded to discs on mine, and fitted a servo whilst I was at it. They grabbed a bit on first application in the morning, but then were pretty good.
Go for it

Pete

Footman James on the Club Insurance. It gives unlimited mileage and breakdown cover. I've got 2 cars on the policy for £100 a year....

Oh thanks Pete, that is interesting and also that Austin A60 shoes fit. Probably not as wide as the Riley ones so tames them a bit I am guessing? sorry just read your post again you mean they are even wider???!!! And thanks PSL may well use FJ then when my current insurance runs out.

Good to hear A60 shoes fit the R brakes - hard to imagine they are even WIDER! Go for it Cor - it's only an hour's work (each side) to stick them on the car - and if you don't like the result it's easy to swop back. You can then chase up 8" rears if you find the fronts are too heavily braked with the R fronts. i would say with your mods you probably have an extra 12 bhp or so = 60.
I find the 3.7 diff works VERY well, and gives a very useful 3rd gear too for overtaking!

They were only slightly wider and I was desperate to go on holiday in the car. I think you can possibly get Riley shoes easier nowadays.

Pete

I just put the 3.7 diff in and even on a standard car it's fine, though I live in an area which is not too hilly admittedly.
I wonder why BMC themselves never put a 3.7 diff, Wolseley brakes and a lightly modded 1098 in? Wouldn't have cost them much, after all they had most of the parts already! Might have perked the car up a bit for very little cost.

The odd thing is when I had my first Minor in 1974 (£30!) we never thought of souping it up a bit. That was the sort of thing you did to a mini or a frogeye but not the Minor. But the same engine....never occurred to us.