Morris Minor Owners Club

Firstly I apologise if topic has already been covered but I thought if is was brought to the top of the list it may get noticed.

I have fitted a disc brake conversion from Moss's to the front end of my pick-up re-build this has gone fine with no hitches. The problem is now that I feel the rear brakes may be too weak compared to the new front setup. I have toyed with the idea of putting the original fronts on the rear but this just seemed to open a can of worms of complications. Has anybody found an acceptable route for improving the rears while still having a very good front set of brakes. Could a better brake shoe be the answer if one exsits ?

Look forward to hearing your comments.

Wryka

The larger 8" rear drum brakes form the Wolseley 1500 can be fitted - or the Riley 1.5 - but a bit more complex. Or swap to a Ford axle complete with 8" rear brakes. Ask Jon at JLH - very helpful and will advise about the Ford axle if you wish to go that route. http://www.jlhmorrisminors.co.uk/

Thanks for that I'll try to track down some Wolsey rear brakes. I fitted the original rear axle today and replace all the rubber bushes with poly bushes. Are the Wolsey brakes are just a remove and replace item or is there a bit more to it ? The engine is still the A series but will be a little more spirited hence the need for better brakes. ANy ideas as to where to find the Wolsey rear set up ?

Thanks again

Wryka

Hard to find - ebay is best bet. But if it's just an A series the standard rear brakes will be fine for sane road use. More or less a bolt-on job, just a slight mod to the handbrake connection required.

I think the fear is worse than the problem.
Because of weight transfer under braking the front brakes have a lot more work to do than the rears.
Many high performance motorbikes have twin disc, multi piston calliper brakes on the front, and single drums on the rear.
Try what you have first and see if there is actually an issue.

The Wolseley rear drums do give a wonderful handbrake ! Great for handbrake turns!!

You young hooligan!! We don't want to encourage that sort of behaviour, surely

Handy in an emergency........ and for getting into that tight parking space.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REpXf0cm ... re=related Ok - it's Russ Swift in a Mini (with extended levers in the rear brake drums!) - but same idea..........

All depends on the brake line pressure required to make the discs work. Mine are Metro 4-pot calipers with Metro vented discs and I need a pressure limiting valve in the rear brake line to stop the rears from locking under heavy braking, and that is with Mintex competition linings on the rear. MOT man finds the difference between the footbrake rear brake performance and the handbrake a bit confusing!

I would get the discs sorted out, and they try the brakes for balance before making changes to the rears.

As suggested I think I'm holding off on the rears for now and just give it a try. LIke with all custom re-builds if you change too much at once you never know how the whole will perform as there is nothing left to gauge it by. If you see what I mean !!

Rear axle and suspension back on after poly bushing everything, recon. healy sprite gearbox fitted to the uprated engine, new exhaust made and being fitted, inlet manifold being spaced out from the head and larger carb. fitted. Re-wiring starts this week with the intial firing up of the old girl to follow shortly afterwards - fingers crossed !

Will keep you posted


Wryka

" inlet manifold being spaced out from the head " ?????????????????????

Sorry the carb. being spaced out from the manifold opps !

Ahhh - but why ??