Disc Brakes

[learyd]

I'm new to the minor scene currently restoring a 1959 that i want to upgrade for mordern use. Thinking about a bigger A series or even an A series with a type 9 gearbox and an escort rear axle. I see there are lots of kits for the front brakes but none for the rear. What brake options could i do for the rear and what disc conversions have people done?

[badobsession]

welcome
there must be kits out there to convert the rear to disk but i think you will find un less you are going
to fit a mega fast engine you will get by with the 9'' drums that are on the ford

most of the guys running fiat engines only have drums on the back ..

[jonathon]

No need for discs on the Escort axle , as said the 8 or 9" drums do just fine, even with 350bhp.
We did fit a Rally design kit which was a pain to adapt to the Minor due to caliper position.[frame][/frame]
As you can see the caliper is at 20 past , not ideal, but the chassis was in the way for a 10 -2 or 10 -past position. These are Escort solids and Golf rear calipers about £160 worth , but check out their website.

[bmcecosse]

You really really won't need discs on the back - even if staying with the Minor axle and certainly not with a Ford axle. Discs on the front if you are going for very high power engine/competition driving - otherwise - simply upgrade to the 9" drums from the Wolselely 1500 and you will have all the braking you can ever need for much less hassle - and very much less expense!

[MartinB]

Mine has got 8" drums on the rear (Escort axle), 280mm discs on the front (in 13" rims) and over 400 bhp and I only get brake fade on a race track when braking from 130 mph repeatedly (also using soft racing slicks), you really don't need discs on the back of a Minor for road use!!!

Morris Minors have such a short wheelbase that under really heavy braking conditions most of the weight transfers to the front axle leaving the rear brakes with very little work to do and will therefore lock up very easily, hence no need for large rear brakes.

[morrisfixer]

Hi guys,
I've got disc brakes on the front and the back of my car,I made the kit myself easy! Fiesta discs and calipers on front,
fiesta discs and Granada calipers I had to machine the halfshafts and make up some brackets I did the whole lot
for £95
And this car has the best brakes i've ever had on any morris
steven[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

Well done! The Fiesta conversion at the front looks good - how about telling us all 'how to do it' ???????

[morrisfixer]

I used the standard minor hubs but machined them so the fiesta
disc fits onto the hub, then drilled the discs to minor stud pattern
then made a bracket to hold the caliper easy It only took a
couple of hours
steven

[ratrodmog]

Agreed, your disc conversion looks very neat and tidy and you obviously have a great engineering mind. Maybe you should write up in detail how you did it and which parts you used so that others may try this conversion . Also, do you find the back brakes locks under heavy breaking or when you haven't got much weight in the back of the car?

[morrisfixer]

Hi guys,
I have now changed the front brakes to fiesta xr2 drilled and grooved discs
their a wee bit bigger,(looks good too) And I've also got the
fiesta servo fitted it has 2 reducer valves on it that stops lock up and you can stand
on the brakes at 80 to 0 mph and the back doesn't lock up. Before
you ask I fabricated the brake and clutch pedal from marina parts
so it all fits nice from the bulkhead
Ill put pics up later

[bmcecosse]

Do you have a drawing of the bracket you used ? I assume the discs just slip on the hub - are they centered from the hub - or by the studs in the holes ? I have a nice big set of Fiesta calipers - may just be tempted to give this a try - as an Engineering exercise before you all panic! I'm not deserting the W drums - well, not yet anyway.........

[morrisfixer]

I don't have any drawings, its all in me head!! If your going to
Peebles I can show you the set up. Must remember to make
drawings the next time I'm building a Morris hahaha
I'll put some drawings down on paper and post them up along
with some pictures next week
steven

[bmcecosse]

If the weather is decent - I will be there. Interested to have a look!

[laneychief]

Sorry to open up an old thread guys, but I would really like to do a disc brake conversion, for the front only.


That fiesta conversion looks very tidy, but being 20 years old and this being my first Morris, and before the Morris (which I've had for two years) I'd never done anything mechanical....

Can someone help me and explain what parts I would need to buy and how to go about doing this, my brother in law is very mechanically minded and I'm going to ask him to help.


I've done quite a bit of research, but I'm very OCD and I like to have things mapped out and understood in my head before I even attempt them!


Again, sorry to drag you all back to the past but you're all very helpful!

Edd

[chrisryder]

all the minor parts suppliers sell kits that bolt on. all the hard work's been done for you!

...well most of it. you still have to fit it. and that means taking the master cylinder out and dismantling it to remove a valve (or you can buy ready-modified ones).

and then you've got the fun of bleeding the brakes!

[bmcecosse]

Morris fixer pretty well described it - get the parts in stock - and then modify the discs to fit the hub. The bracket will then be obvious.