Morris Minor Owners Club

I had a rude awakening today, as I was driving to work at 5:30 this morning.

Got in the car - and quickly realised that I was having to virtually stand on the brake pedal in order to get the car to stop! Anyway, having proceeded a short while longer - carefully I hasten to add - I went to slow down and, as if by magic, nothing! The pedal went straight to the floor. Fortunately, I managed to swerve around the car that was turning into a driveway in front of me, and managed to stop by using the handbrake. An inspection of the master cylinder at lunch time showed it to be devoid of any brake fluid - not a nice experience...

Straight to the garage I think!

This has happened to me... not nice! Mine was a leaking rear brake cylinder. The brake shoes were wet so the handbrake didn't do much... crunch!

You were certainly unlucky there - I take it you didn't get much prior warning, like I did? My rear handbrake is still strong so I'm guessing the problem either lies at the front or a leaking union... we'll have to see. It's a pig when you're a student, with nowhere to do the work yourself and not a lot of money! I'm just grateful it didn't happen on the motorway whilst slowing down from 70mph; in fact I don't even want to think about it...

PS - are you planning on going to MOT next year? I'm not actively aware of any other 'younger' parties planning on going as yet, would be good to meet up if there are.

HAd the same thing on my series 2, funny thing is I topped up the master cylinder and it hasn't gone down since ?? oh and all the cylinders are dry as a bone

rsawatson wrote:You were certainly unlucky there - I take it you didn't get much prior warning, like I did? My rear handbrake is still strong so I'm guessing the problem either lies at the front or a leaking union... we'll have to see. It's a pig when you're a student, with nowhere to do the work yourself and not a lot of money! I'm just grateful it didn't happen on the motorway whilst slowing down from 70mph; in fact I don't even want to think about it....

No warning at all! I was approaching a roundabout to join the M4 on a rainy Friday afternoon at rush hour... not fun at all. Just thank God I had slowed down using the gears!

rsawatson wrote:PS - are you planning on going to MOT next year? I'm not actively aware of any other 'younger' parties planning on going as yet, would be good to meet up if there are.

Yes... I must send Bill the cheque ASAP. I have an awful memory

same thing happened to me, front cylinder failed, but i crashed into a post at 15 mph, didnt have enough time to grad the hand break

yes very nasty, I have often wondered if you could fit a duel system like modern cars bound to be a master that could be modified or a low warning light,I suppose you could fit a remote reservoir from a modern with a low level warning. Now thats probably the way to go for low level but wouldn't help if one cylinder went like in a duel system. Might just have a look at doing something like that mmmm.

[quote="rsawatson"] My rear handbrake is still strong so I'm guessing the problem either lies at the front or a leaking union.
The handbrake works independently of the footbrake, it is mechanically operated so the brake fluid or lack of it will have no effect on the operation of the handbrake unless the linings are contaminated by leaking fluid

Refill the master cylinder with fluid and get someone to pump the brake pedal while you have a look underneath. That way you will be able to see where the fluid is leaking from. BUT - remember to put the cap back on the brake master cylinder beforehand, otherwise someone will get squirted with brake fluid! Not that it has happened to me...

I too had this experience back in July, only mine was caused by a fractured copper brake pipe. See this thread; http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34283

I had it happen on the driveway on the first traveller. I cant recall exactly why, but I was pumping the brakes and one of the rear pipes burst! The exhaust had been rubbing on it.

I had a pin hole appear in the brake pipe under the screen wash approaching red traffic lights on a T junction in France.
Just rolled onto the junction looking sheepish and worried. and not wishing I'd worn brown underpants.
What was really shocking was how good the rest of the pipe looked.
One pin hole had the pedal going straight to the floor, don't pass stop, don't collect £200.

It seems like I had EXTREMELY favourable circumstances then, considering the hurrendous situations some of you have been in without the luxury of brakes! It's worrying that some of you got no prior warning at all.

I can only wait and see the results of the mechanic's inspection... btw I've got a white Traveller as a courtesy car!

Yep, happened to me with Wilson, going down a North Devon hill, gathering speed with his new electronic ignition, it was scary, but the handbrake did the job, I had a leaky rear cylinder and pipe, so the rear pipes were replaced and a new cylinder.....

Safety only seems sexy and cheap when you're in the danger zone!

Safety only seems sexy and cheap when you're in the danger zone!

Needs some work but I like it!

How about "safety only seems expensive and dull when you aren't in the danger zone" ?

Ref brake failure, I once went for M>O>T> and the brakes failed when driving onto the ramp!

Ref brake failure, I once went for M>O>T> and the brakes failed when driving onto the ramp!

....and off the other end? I hope not.

last time I had brake failure was only a couple of years ago - total failure due to a sheared pipe. I was coming down a hill at 60mph at the time - but thankfully it was late at night, no traffic and no junction at the bottom!

The car wasn't actually mine, and the owner had fitted a 'long' pipe on the rear axle 'short' side without any clips. The extra length and no clips let it flap about, which caused it to shear off.

Previous to that I've had brake fail with an empty m/c. This was in mid winter, caused by a poor condition master cylinder bore (rusty). When it's cold the brake seals shrink and go hard, so they don't work as well, therefore the m/c was leaking heavily.

Sounds like it's only a matter of time before it happens again...

I've learned my lesson though, I will keep up with the regular checks.