Morris Minor Owners Club

Are you sitting comfortably? ... Then I'll begin.

In the beginning there was Tim, he was green (where he wasn't rusty) and liked to eat rear axles, engines and gearboxes. His time was short lived and he went to a new home.

There there was Derek, he seemed to be a vast improvement on Tim but he was just lulling me into a false sense of security as today he decided not to stop and instead try to mate with a volvo 4x4 and rub shoulders with a Ford Focus.

Basically today while out and about the brakes failed to stop the car and I ended up hitting a volvo 4x4 thing (smashing a light on the woman's car) and scraping the side of a Ford Focus (only a wee bit, it's not really that bad).

Derek came out with a broken headlight, a crumpled wing on the driver's side and some scrapes down to bare metal on the passenger side. Luckily I had slowed down through the box and this all happened at less than 10mph.

A I said someone, somewhere has it in for me and my car... maybe I'm not meant to have a Morris Minor!

I hope you're OK Matt. Was there any indication at all that anything was wrong with the brakes before hand?

Luckily no one was hurt due to the fact it happened a low speed - it was just a shock.

Glad to hear you are ok Matt. Everything is fixable and I suppose it's a lesson to all of us... to really keep an eye on those brakes of ours.

Are you going to do a postmortem to find out exactly why the brakes failed? Or will you just let the insurance sort it all out?

The handbrake should be able to lock the rear wheels at 20 mph. Did you use it ?? Of course - maybe a leak at the back cylinders has dumped fluid on them - causing the footbrake to fail and the handbrake to be useless. Usually there is some pre-warning, such as soft pedal/increased travel/useless handbrake etc etc. But maybe a pipe just broke off ? Some use copper for brake pipes - and i had one come away in my hand once! The copper work-hardens and becomes very very brittle. Lucky you didn't do serious damage to self or others, although I don't fancy your Insurance premiums for the next couple of years....

Hi Mat. Sorry to hear of your troubles. I have Not been to a Church, Chappel, Mosque or anyother place of worship for sometime (due to a local vicar issue). I still have some faith and belief. I also think that If someone "up there" doesn't like you to drive a Morris Minor then I think he would have you drive/Own a Skoda.

''due to a local vicar issue''--don't tell me, he doesn't believe in father christmas.

Frightening stuff, M! But I don't think it means you and Minors aren't meant to be. Even Derek may still be the one. Remember -- classic cars are like loves -- you go through trials and tribulations, but you come out on the other side in a stronger relationship, and as better people. Derek will be fine and so will you. And at least no one got badly hurt.
Of course, if you decide to end your foray into Minorhood, then feel free -- it's your life -- but I don't think you should take it as a sign that it's not meant to be. Brakes are always finicky. Keep in mind those Toyotas. Fix it up, and maybe consider discs or servoes, and you'll be okay.
Besides, if you get rid of Derek (and don't get another Minor), you'll leave the forum, and that'd be a loss for us all.

" Discs and servos " Oh dear ! I can't see that fade was the problem here! [frame][/frame]

Have you found out why the brakes failed yet ?

The handbrake should be able to lock the rear wheels at 20 mph. Did you use it ??

Yes but it was tipping down so the can just slid.

Have you found out why the brakes failed yet ?

Took the top off the brake master cylinder earlier and it was completely empty! - Haven't looked into the cause of it emptying yet though.

routine maintenance may have prevented this happening

aupickup wrote:routine maintenance may have prevented this happening

As with most people on here I am obsessive about my car. I have a maintenance schedule that I stick to. I don't believe it was my fault.

was just a thought

les wrote:''due to a local vicar issue''--don't tell me, he doesn't believe in father christmas.

I feel that if I communicate my feelings towards this person who proclaims to be "a man of the cloth" then I would seriously offend the good people here.

Hahaha, brilliant. Your anger is entirely righteous, Santa.

Just a correction -- BMC is, as always, right -- I momentarily was confused. It happens. Hope you get this sorted out, M. Su moggie es mi moggie: but for the grace of god go all our Minors.

Well we know what's wrong with Derek now...

Driver's side brake cylinder has gone and that's where all the brake fluid has poured out of.